POLYMERS

Lesson-5
 Focus Question

Why are polymers so important for modern

materials?
 New Vocabulary

polymers
monomer
polymerization reaction
addition polymerization
condensation polymerization
thermoplastic
thermosetting
 Review Vocabulary

molecular mass: the mass of one molecule of a

substance
 POLYMERS

Poly (Greek) means “many” and mer (Greek) means “parts”

Polymers are:

» Large molecules
» Multiples of many repeated subunits

» Examples: Polyethene (PE), Poly vinyl chloride, rubber, cellulose, proteins…

 POLYMERS

Classification:

Polymers

based on origin of source

Natural Synthetic

based on mode of polymerization

Addition Condensation
SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Man made polymers. Major source is petroleum

Examples: Nylon, polyethene, polycarbonates…

This section contains

» Addition polymers

» Condensation polymers

» Plastics- global production, use and fate

» Plastic pollution
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Preparation of polymer – Addition polymerization

» Polymer formed by chain addition reactions between monomers that contain an unsaturated bond (double or triple)

» Monomer (mono = one and mer = part) is a low molecular weight compound from which the polymer is synthesized

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
monomer monomer monomer polymer

» Monomers couple through the opening of their multiple bond (monomers are unsaturated while polymers are saturated, except at terminals)

» No formation of by-product

» Monomers are generally gases or volatile liquids. Polymers are solids

 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Addition polymers – repeating unit and monomers

H H
H H
polymerization
n C C C C
H H
H H n

Monomer (ethene) repeat unit (polymer = polyethene)

» The term “repeating unit” denotes an elementary unit which periodically repeats itself along the polymeric chain

» Change the double bond in the monomer to a single bond in the repeat unit

» Add a bond to each end of the unit

» Repeating unit contain same number of atoms as the monomer

 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Addition Polymers : Example 1 PVC (Poly vinyl chloride)

Find the repeating unit and monomer for the following polymer Chlorine Carbon Hydrogen

Monomer Repeating unit

Cl H Cl H
or C C or C C
H H H H
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Addition Polymers

Practice Question-1 (Poly styrene): Find the repeating unit and monomer for the following polymer

CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2 CH

CH2 CH CH2 CH

Monomer Repeating unit

 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Addition Polymers

Practice Question-2 (Poly propene): Write three repeating units for the monomer CH 3-CH = CH2

H H
3 C C CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2 CH

H CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3

Practice Question-3 (Teflon): Write five repeating units for the monomer CF2 = CF2

F F F F F F F F F F F F
5 C C C C C C C C C C C C
F F F F F F F F F F F F
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Preparation of Polymers – Condensation polymerization

Condensation reaction: Reaction in which two or molecule combine to form larger molecule, with the lose of a small molecule such as H 2O, NH3 …

Example 1: Esterification reaction Carboxylic acid + alcohol → Ester + water

O O

R C O H H O R R C O R H O H

carboxylic acid alcohol ester water

Example 2: Amide formation reaction Acid chloride + amine → Amide + hydrochloric acid

O H O H
R C Cl H N R R C N R H Cl

acid chloride amine amide

 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Condensation polymerization

Poly amide (example: Nylon)

O O H H O O H H

H O C C O H H N N H H O C C N N H H2O

monomers amide linkage

O O H H O O H H
… HO C C N N H HO C C N N H …
-H2O

O O H H O O H H
C C N N C C N N n
Repeating unit
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Condensation polymers

Practice Question- 4 (Polyethylene terephthalate): Find the repeating unit for the following polymer

O O O O O O

O C C O CH2 CH2 O C C O CH2 CH2 O C C O CH2 CH2

O O
Repeating unit C C O CH2 CH2 O

O O
Monomers H O C C O H and H O CH2 CH2 O H

terephthalic acid ethane 1,2-diol (ethylene glycol)

 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Condensation polymers

Practice Question- 5 (Nylon 6, 6): Write two repeating unit for the polymer formed from the following monomers

O O

HO C CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 C OH and NH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 NH2

O O O O
Two repeating units C (CH2)4 C NH (CH2)6 NH C (CH2)4 C NH (CH2)6 NH

O O
Polymer C (CH2)4 C NH (CH2)6 NH
n
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Condensation Vs. Addition Polymers

Monomers Monomers
Have two similar Unsaturated
or different (double or triple
function groups Condensation polymers bond)
formed by the
Addition polymers
condensation of two Examples
Examples formed by the addition of
different monomers PE, PVC, PP
PET, Nylon monomers with no by-
resulting in the formation of
products
small molecules such as
Molecular weight H2O, NH3… Molecular weight
Not multiples of Multiples of
molecular weight molecular weight
of monomer of monomer
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Plastics

Plastikos (Greek), Plasticus (Latin) meaning “able to be molded or shaped”

Plastic is any synthetic or semisynthetic organic polymer mixed with additives

Additives are used to:

» Enhance mechanical properties (strength, elasticity…)

» Change chemical properties ( prevent oxidation…)
» Alter thermal and electrical properties (conductivity, non flammability …)
» Reduce cost
» Colour
Leo Baekeland (1863-1944)

First synthetic plastic was invented in 1909 by Leo Hendrick Baekeland

 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Common plastics we use

Resin Identification Code (RIC) indicate the type of plastic that an item is made from

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

PET HDPE PVC LDPE PP PS Other

Poly ethene High density Poly vinyl Low density Poly propene Poly styrene Poly carbonates
terephthalate polyethene chloride polyethene Nylon, Acrylic etc.
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Plastics are non-biodegradable

» Biodegradation is the disintegration or decomposition of materials by microorganisms into simpler substances

» Non-biodegradable materials are those which cannot be broken down by the microorganisms into simpler substances

CO2
Bacterial action
CH4 N2

Degradation products

Plastics are non-degradable because:

» Non-natural, microorganisms cannot recognize plastics

» High energy is required to break C-C single bond
» No metabolic pathway available

Plastics wastes can persists in the environment for centuries (can take up to 1000 years to degrade)
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Plastics pollution

» Land litter

» Ocean plastic pollution kills marine animals either by entanglement or by ingestion

» Plastic additives such as BPA (bisphenol) disrupts the hormonal mechanisms (thyroid hormones, sex hormones etc.)

» Photodegradation of plastic releases toxins to the atmosphere

1.1 million 70,000 83% and 93%

Plastic is killing more than 1.1 million Average person eats 70,000 83% tap water and 93% bottle water
sea birds and animals every year microplastics each year are contaminated with microplastics
 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Plastic pollution- What you can do

» Carry your own shopping bag to supermarket

» Refuse disposable plastic cutlery and straws

» Pick up any plastic you see when you are out walking

» Carry a refillable water bottle

» Support ban on single use plastic bags

» Pressure food suppliers to use non-plastic packaging

D o n’ t l a m i n a t e t h e E a r t h
https://www.unenvironment.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/
NATURAL POLYMERS

Polymers found in nature

Examples: Carbohydrates, Cellulose, proteins, DNA, natural
rubber…
 Quiz

1. What are large molecules consisting of many

repeating structural units?

A hydrocarbons

B monomers

C polymers CORRECT

D thermoplastics
 Quiz

2. In what kind of reaction are all of the atoms in the

monomers retained in the polymer product?

A polymerization

B addition polymerization CORREC

T

C condensation polymerization

D retention polymerization
 Quiz

3. In condensation polymerization, __________ .

A all atoms in the monomers are retained

B monomers combine with the loss of

a small byproduct CORREC
T
C water is used to combine monomers

D liquid monomers condense onto a

surface
 Quiz

4. What can be molded when first prepared but cannot

be remelted?

A plastics

B monomers

C thermoplastic polymers

D thermosetting polymers CORREC

T