1. WELCOME TO
POLYMER
PLANET

2. POLYMERS ARE EVERYWHERE

3. monomers Polymer “Poly” = many “mer” = units
Polymers are many units called monomers that can be easily connected into long chains. They are giant molecules usually with carbons building the backbone.

4. POLYMERS (the whole train) are made out of MONOMERS (individual cars of the train) joined together.

5. Polymer: High molecular weight molecule made up of a small repeat unit (monomer).
A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-
Monomer: Low molecular weight compound that can be connected together to give a poymer

6. Natural Vs Synthetic
Polymers

7. Cotton: a natural polymer

8. Cotton fiber is mostly cellulose, and cellulose is made of chains of the sugar, glucose linked together a certain way.

9. Natural Polymers – found in nature and can be extracted
Silk
Natural Rubber
Amber
Wool
Molecules of life: proteins and DNA
Natural Polymers – found in nature and can be extracted

10. Natural Polymers

11. Properties of Natural Polymers
Properties of plastics :-
Breaks Down more easily
Wool is good heat insulator
Silk is satiny texture
Cotton – good air circulation and absorption of moisture

12. Synthetic Polymers derived from crude oil and made by scientists
Velcro
Spandex
Kevlar
Polyester
Nylon
Saran
Synthetic Polymers derived from crude oil and made by scientists

13. Range of Synthetic Polymers
Traditionally, the industry has produced two main types of synthetic polymers – plastics and rubbers.
Plastics are (generally) rigid materials
Rubbers are flexible materials which exhibit long- range elasticity.

14. Properties of Synthetic Polymers
Properties of plastics :-
Light
Strong
Easily molded and shaped and be coloured
Inert (unreactive) to chemical
Insulators of electricity and heat
Cheap
Able to resist corrosion
Special properties can be made according to specific needs

15. Human and Environmental Impact
The Pros and Cons

16. Positive Impacts of Synthetic Polymers
Manufacturing: of plastic articles involving less energy than that necessary for the same production from traditional materials
Fuel Consumption: lightweight properties reduce fuel consumption in vehicles and space travel
Construction: non-corrosive plastics play a major role in the construction
Medical: Artificial limbs
Environmental: New Research for Oil Spills
Convenience: Everyday items (toothbrush, shower curtain)
Sports: Improvement to equipment and performance

17. The Negative Impacts of Synthetic Polymers
Disposal problems
Most of the polymers are non-biogradeable
Cannot be decomposed by bacteria / decomposer
So… caused disposal problem when polymer not decay
Derived from Oil –non-renewable resource
Blockage of rivers
Plastics items discarded
Blockage of drainage systems & rivers
Diseases
Polymer containers not buried in the ground
Become breeding ground for mosquitoes

18. Harmful to animals
The non-biogradeable polymers thrown into
rivers -> lakes -> seas
Swallowed by aquatic animals
Animals die due to choking
Pollutions
Open burning of polymers
Released harmful,
poisonous gases
Cause air pollution
Contributes to acid rain

19. What you can do? Recycle Avoid the use of single use plastics
Plastics can be burned as fuel
Use degradable plastics

20. CATEGORY Code Example DENSITY1
PETE
Pop bottle
Peanut butter jar
Mylar
1.38 – 1.39 2
HDPE
Milk jug
Shampoo bottle
0.95 – 0.97 3 V
Pipes and fittings, pill bottles, shower curtains, garden hoses, tile, leather like luggage and upholstery
1.15 – 1.35 4
LDPE
Trash bags
Diaper liners
0.92 – 0.94 5 PP
Indoor/outdoor carpeting, kitchenware
0.90 – 0.91 6 PS
Styrofoam
Pen casing
Clear plastic cups
1.05 – 1.07 7
OTHER
Toothpaste and cosmetic containers

21. Linear, Branched, Crosslinked
Polymer structures
Linear, Branched, Crosslinked

22. Things that are made of polymers look, feel, and act depending on how their atoms and molecules are connected.
Some are rubbery, like a bouncy ball, some are sticky and gooey, and some are hard and tough, like a skateboard.

23. By using different starting materials and processing techniques, we can produce polymers having different molecular structures

25. Linear Polymer
Microwaveable food containers, Teflon, Garden Hoses, Dacron carpets and Kevlar ropes. Sturdy and rigid structure.
In reality, the number of monomer units in a polymer commonly ranges from 1,000 to 10,000 or more.

26. Branched Polymer
Soft, flexible due to looser structure. Shampoo and ketchup bottles and milk jugs, plastic food wrap. To find some other examples, look on food containers and other plastics for the LDPE (low-density polyethylene)

27. Cross-linked Polymer
Lightly cross linked – flexible rubber. Heavily cross linked the more rigid and hard plastic. Two or more long chain polymer chains connected by chemical bonds that are not easily broken. Silly putty, Car Tires, Bowling balls.

28. Plastics are sudivided into
Elastomers
Thermoplastic
Thermoset

29. Fancy word for Rubber Elastomer
Polymer that can regain its original shape after being stretched or pressed at room temperature.
Fancy word for Rubber

30. Range of Polymers
thermoplastics and thermosets

31. Thermosets Extensive cross-linking formed by covalent bonds.
Bonds prevent chains moving relative to each other.
Material that cures or hardens when heated.
Chemical resistance, thermal stability, and overall durability

32. Thermoplastics (80%) No cross links between chains.
Weak attractive forces between chains broken by warming. The Material softens (becomes pliable when heated and can be remoulded.
.Therefore can be melted down and recycled

33. Range of Polymers
Another way of classifying polymers is in terms of their form or function

34. Addition Polymerisation Condensation Polymerisation Uses of polymers
The chemical process that joins the monomers together
Addition Polymerisation
Condensation Polymerisation
Uses of polymers

35. Addition Polymerisation
Many molecules of monomers are added together
A monomer has to have a double bond –alkene
Only the polymer is produced (no other product)

36. Polyethene / Polyethylene
Monomer: ethene

37. Ethylene has two carbons; plus, instead of the two carbons sharing just one electron each, they share two electrons each. High temperature or UV light can cause two of these shared (paired) electrons to become unshared (unpaired). C H H H
These unpaired electrons are eager to pair up with another electron. If this ethylene molecule bumps another ethylene molecule, the unpaired electrons will cause the one it bumped into to lend one of its inner electrons. C C - - C C H H - - C - C - - - C C - -

38. Here’s another way to see the chain reaction
Here’s another way to see the chain reaction. These are the carbon atoms with their double-bond (2 shared electrons each). The hydrogen atoms are not shown. A collision breaks the first bond.
Once the first double bond is broken, a chain reaction will occur. In about a second an entire chamber of compressed ethylene gas turns into the polymer, polyethylene.

40. Polyvinylchloride
Monomer: vinyl chloride

43. Addition Polymerisation
You are expected to be able to do the following things with addition polymers:
Predict the repeating unit of the polymer given the monomer
Predict the monomer from the polymer – displayed formula
Pg 102 # 1,2,3

44. Condensation Polymers
Involves 2 monomers that have different functional groups.
They also involve the elimination of water or another small molecule (ex. H2O, HCl)
Monomer A + Monomer B  Polymer + small molecule (normally water - dehydration).
Common condensation polymers include polyesters (the ester linkage) and polyamides (the amide linkage as in proteins).

45. Polyester is a another copolymer
Polyester is a another copolymer. It is made from equal amounts of two different monomers. Polyester is used to make bottles and fabrics.

46. Recall: Esterification Reaction

48. Hence the name POLYESTER ESTER groups formed
Polyester is made from the two monomers, terephthalic acid (note: “ph” is silent) and ethylene glycol (car antifreeze). This makes a popular plastic called PETE, which is short for Polyethylene Terephthalate. The synthesis is also a dehydration reaction because water is given off.
PETE O O C H
Hence the name POLYESTER
ESTER groups formed

49. Polyesters
The ester linkage is formed between the monomers of a diol and a diacid.

51. Polyamides
These involve the linkage of two monomers through the amide linkage as in proteins (e.g. nylon, kevlar)

52. Polymers: Proteins
Polymerization of a protein: putting simple monomers together.
Where will the monomers JOIN TOGETHER?
monomer
monomer
monomer
monomer

53. Polymers: Proteins
Polymerization of a protein: putting simple monomers together.
Where will the monomers JOIN TOGETHER?
monomer
monomer
monomer
monomer

54. Polymers: Proteins
Polymerization of a protein: putting simple monomers together.
Water drops out to allow the bonds to form.

55. Polymers: Proteins
Polymerization of a protein: putting simple monomers together.

56. Nylon 6,6 a polyamide

57. Nylon-6,6

58. Kevlar a polyamide

59. Uses of polyamides
The main use of polyesters and polyamides is as fibres in clothing.
Most clothing now has a degree of manufactured fibres woven into the natural material (such as cotton).
This gives the material more desirable characteristics, such as stretchiness, and better washability.
Pg.111 # 1,2,3