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Polymers & their applications
By
HMK
Why use polymers?
• Easy to process
(thermoplastics /thermosets)
• Cheap
• Lightweight
• Tough
• Flexible
• Transparent (sometimes)
• Insulating (generally)
Polymer
Comes from two words: Poly & mer
Poly= many
Mer= repeat unit
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C
H H H H H H H Cl H Cl H Cl H CH3 H CH3 H CH3
Polyethylene (PE) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Polypropylene (PP)
Polymer
A molecule of high Mw, structure of which comprises
C)
How do we classify polymers?
• By origin
• Physical behavior
• Structure/Architecture
• Application/function
• Polymerization mechanism
• Polymerization chemistry
• Cost
Origin of Polymers
Biopolymers
– Protein: horn, cartilage, hair, hide, ligaments, tusks
– Composite structures: bone, shells
– Plant materials:
• Cellulose (cotton, sisal, hemp) fiber
• lignin & cellulose (wood)
• Chitin (insect & crustacean exoskeletons)
Synthetic Polymers
Coal
Petroleum
Natural gas
*
*
n
n
Me
• Thermoplastics
Polystyrene
Polyvinylchloride
• Thermosets
Phenolic Resins
Melamines
epoxies
Architecture
Applications/Function
O
• Structural * *
N
H n
Nylon-6
*
*
• Coatings O
n
O
O O
• Fibers * O O
O
n *
O O O O
N N N N N N N N
H H H H
N N
O NH HN O
• Adhesives
Urea-Formaldehyde
Taxonomy by polymerization mechanism
Addition polymerization
Condensation polymerization
Saturated hydrocarbons/ paraffins
H H
H
C C CnH2n+2
H H
H
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons (alkenes or olefins &
alkynes )
• Double & triple bonds relatively reactive – can form new bonds
– Double bond – ethylene or ethene - CnH2n
H H
C C
H H
• 4-bonds, but only 3 atoms bound to C’s
H C C H
Isomerism
– two compounds with same chemical formula can have quite different
structures
Ex: C8H18
• n-octane
H H H H H H H H
H C C C C C C C C H = H3C CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH3
H H H H H H H H
H3C ( CH2 ) CH3
6
• 2,4-dimethyl hexane
CH3
H3C CH CH2 CH CH3
CH2
CH3
Addition polymers
• Formed from un saturated monomers with no
small molecules condensing out
• E.g. polyethylene from ethylene
•
ethylene polyethylene
Condensation Polymerization
Water is “Condensed out”
during polymerization of Nylon
•monomers:
1,4-phenylene-diamine (para-
phenylenediamine) and terephthaloyl chloride:
•hydrochloric acid condenses out
Degree of Polymerization, n
n = number of repeat units per chain
H H H H H H H H H H H H
H C C (C C ) C C C C C C C C H
H H H H H H H H H H H H
Mw
n
m
H H H H H H H H
isotactic – all R groups on
C C C C C C C C
same side of chain
H R H R H R H R
H H H R H H H R
syndiotactic – R groups
C C C C C C C C
alternate sides
H R H H H R H H
H H H H H R H H
atactic – R groups random C C C C C C C C
H R H R H H H R
cis/trans Isomerism in polymers
cis trans
cis-isoprene trans-isoprene
(natural rubber) (gutta percha)
bulky groups on same side of bulky groups on opposite sides
chain of chain
Copolymers :two or more monomers polymerized together
• random – A and B randomly
vary in chain random
A– B– graft
Major applications of polymers
1. Plastics
2. Rubbers
3. Fibers
4. Surface finishes and protective coatings
5. Adhesives
6. Composites
1. Most Commonly-Used Recyclable Plastics
Use:
• soft drink bottles
•dishwashing containers,
• laser toner cartridges,
•picnic tables,
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Uses:
wide application in blow molded bottles for milk, water and
fruit juices, toys, liquid detergent bottles
• Recycled Products:
Recycling bins, benches, bird feeders, floor tile, liquid laundry
detergent containers.
Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
• Uses
– Rigid PVC:60 percent of total PVC
(pipe and fittings, siding, carpet backing, windows, bottles and
packaging sheet)
– Flexible PVC:
(wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, floor coverings,
synthetic-leather products, coatings, blood bags, medical tubing
etc.)
• Recycled Products:
recycling containers, roadway gutters
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Uses:
plastic retail bags and grocery bags, some flexible lids, wire
and cable applications, frozen food bags, grocery bags.
• Recycled Products:
garbage can liners, floor tile, furniture, film, compost bins,
trash cans
Polypropylene (PP)
Polystyrene
Natural rubbers
Has 3 OH-groups
in each ring
4. Surface finishes and protective
coatings
E.g.
Milky-white glue – PVAC (Polyvinyl Acetate)
Clear glue – PVOH (Polyvinyl Alcohol)
6. Composites
• Engineered materials that contain at least 2 phases
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Incinerate with energy recovery
Incinerate without energy recovery
Landfill