Polymers Learning Objectives To recall that polymers are made by joining many small monomer molecules together. To recall that polymers have many useful properties. To recall that many polymers are not Biodegradable and that this has consequences for the environment. To understand that the raw material for polymers is crude oil and that this is a non-renewable resource To understand that the availability of polymers can be extended by recycling and that this has environmental advantages To understand that some polymers can be made to be biodegradable.

Polymers are useful materials Polymers are useful materials. They can be found in thousands of objects that we use everyday.

They are also used in much larger objects What useful properties do polymers have when making these objects?

Where do polymers come from? Poly(e)thene Ethene Polymerisation Cracking Fractional Distillation Crude Oil Decane

Much of it ends up in landfill What happens to plastic objects when they are no longer useful? Much of it ends up in landfill Because Plastics are non-biodegradable (They do not rot) they will stay there for hundreds of years.

It can damage the environment It can harm wildlife

Can we solve these problems? Plastics that are meant to only have a short useful life can be made to degrade Plastics can be designed that once they have been used they can be degrades by the effects of bacteria, oxygen or UV light. They can then be returned to the soil as compost.

Plastics that are meant for long term use cannot be biodegradable These can be recycled and turned into new plastic objects Plastics are collected from streets Householders collect used plastic objects The plastics has to be sorted into the different types. Most objects are labelled to make this easier Made into new objects Sorted

What advantages are there to using biodegradable plastics? What advantages are there to recycling plastics?

Polymers Learning Objectives To recall that polymers are made by joining many small monomer molecules together. To recall that polymers have many useful properties. To recall that many polymers are not Biodegradable and that this has consequences for the environment. To understand that the raw material for polymers is crude oil and that this is a non-renewable resource To understand that the availability of polymers can be extended by recycling and that this has environmental advantages To understand that some polymers can be made to be biodegradable.