SYNTHETIC POLYMER
CHAPTER 11
11.1 Chain growth polymers
(addition polymerisation),
photopolymers, copolymers)
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Introduction
• Polymers are macro-sized molecules of relatively high
molecular mass, which find extensive use in our daily life.
• Polymers are large but single chain-like molecules in which
the repeating unit derived from small molecules called
monomers are covalently linked.
• Structurally, they are characterized by many repeating
molecular units which form linear chains or a cross-linked
network.
• Monomers are small units, which constitute the repeating
units in polymers.
• Polymerization - reaction joining together of monomers to
form polymers.
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What are polymers?
Polymers are very large molecules made when hundreds of
monomers join together to form long chains.
The word ‘polymer’ comes from the Greek words
poly (meaning ‘many’) and meros (meaning ‘parts’).
Plastics are synthetic polymers that
can be shaped by heat or pressure.
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✓ The process by which monomers are transformed into
polymers is called polymerization.
✓ Polymers are classified based on their source of availability as
follows:
1. Naturally occurring polymers- in plants and animal
(Example: Starch, Protein and Cellulose)
2. Semi synthetic polymers - derived from naturally
occurring polymers by chemical modifications.
(Example : Vulcanized rubber, gun cotton)
3. Synthetic polymers - man-made polymers
(Example : Teflon and dacron, synthetic rubbers, plastics
and PVC.
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Examples of monomers and polymers
Monomer Polymer
CH2 CH2
CH2CH2
CH2 CHCl CH2CH2
Cl
O
H2C CH2 CH2CH2O
HOCH2CH2OH CH2CH2O
HO CO2H O C
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Common Polymers
Monomer Polymer
CH3
H3C
Polyethylene n
Ethylene Repeat unit
CH3
CH3 n
Polypropylene CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3
Propylene
CH3
Ph n
Polystyrene Ph Ph Ph Ph Ph Ph Ph
Styrene
CH3
Cl n
Poly(vinyl chloride) Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl
Vinyl Chloride
F2 F2 F2 F2 F2 F2
F2C CF2 C C C C C C CF3
F3C C C C C C C
F2 F2 F2 nF F2 F2
Tetrafluoroethylene Poly(tetrafluoroethylene): Teflon 2
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What keeps the chain together?
The monomers in a polymer are joined together by covalent
bonds between atoms.
In a covalent bond, each atom shares one or more electron
with another atom. The bonds are sometimes shown as sticks.
covalent
bond
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Two types of polymerization:
➢ Addition polymerization
H H
H 2C CH2 C C
n
ethene H H
polyethene
H H H H H H H H H H
l l l l l l l l l l
C–C–C–C–C–C–C–C–C–C
l l l l l l l l l l
H H H H H H H H H H
Addition polymerization is the joining together of alkene
monomers with the breaking of double bonds without the
formation of other products.
Naming is just adding “poly” in front of the original
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monomer.
COPOLYMER
• a polymer made by reaction of two different monomers.
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H3C C CH2 + H2C CH2
H
CH3 H H H
C C C C
H H H H n
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Photopolymers
• A photopolymer or light-activated resin is a polymer that
changes its properties often manifested structurally when
exposed to light, often in the ultraviolet or visible region
of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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11.2 Condensation Polymerisation
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Condensation polymerisation is the joining together
of monomers to form a polymer with the release of a small
molecule such as water or HCl.
COOH C O O C H 2C H 2O
H O C H 2C H 2O H
+
+ 2 H 2O
COOH CO
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Nylon (Polyamide)
Polymers produced form condensation polymerization
of amines with carboxylic acids.
Nylon-6,6 is made from the monomers hexane -1,6
diamine and hexane -1,6- dicarboxylic acid.
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O
HO NH2
OH + H2N
+ 2H2O
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Polyester
Polymer produced from the reaction between carboxylic
acid and diol.
Reaction of benzene -1,4-dicarboxylic acid and
ethane -1,2 – diol.
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H2 H2
+ HO C C OH
HOOC COOH
O O
C COCH2CH2O
+ 2H2O
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