1. Natural vs. Man Made

2. Natural Objects
Some things occur naturally in our world. These things are not made by people.
Water, rocks, plants, and trees are made by nature.

3. Can you name some other natural objects?
Did you say sand, air, grass, mountains, soil, or animals?

4. Man Made Objects
Other items in our world are made by people.
There are many of these human features on the earth’s surface. We call these things man made objects.
Things like buildings, cars, books, and furniture are man made.

5. Can you think of some other man made objects?
Did you say any of these?

6. Is this object made by nature or man?

7. Is this object made by nature or man?

8. Is this object made by nature or man?

9. Is this object made by nature or man?

10. Is this object made by nature or man?

11. Is this object made by nature or man?

12. Is this object made by nature or man?

13. Is this object made by nature or man?

14. Is this object made by nature or man?

15. Earth’s surface contains both natural and man made materials.

16. Polymers Polymers: What are they? Different Types
Uses and Applications
Chemical Make-up

17. Polymers - What are they?
Polymers are a special kind of macromolecule
The word polymer comes from the Greek words “poly,” meaning “many”, and “meres,” meaning “parts” or “repeating units”
A Polymer consists of a large chain of repeating molecules (monomers) that are attached in an end to end fashion

18. Description of Polymers
Imagine a string of beads
Each bead is identical (for example, red sphere)
Represents the “mer”
The string can contain 100’s of beads
Represents the “poly” characteristic
The string in between the beads represents the chemical bond between monomers

19. Length of Polymers Polymer chains are HUGE!
Polymers typically consist of between 20,000 and 40,000 individual monomers
If each bead on the string of beads were one inch apart, one polymer molecule could be as long as 10 football fields!!!
This chain length is what gives the polymer most of its desirable characteristics

20. Description of Polymers
Polymer chains are flexible, and usually “clump” together into a smaller shape
This enables the individual chains to interact and become entangled
This helps to give a polymer its strength and flexibility

21. Types of Polymers There are two main types of polymers Natural
(cotton, silk, wood, leather…)
Synthetic
(plastics, nylon, latex…)

22. Synthetic Polymers There are two basic types of synthetic polymers
Thermoplastics (plastics, Styrofoam)
These can be softened by heating and hardened by cooling - easily recycled
Can easily be cast into various shapes
Thermosets (epoxy’s, adhesives)
These harden after being heated
Can easily be cast into different shapes
Cannot be reformed

23. Types of Polymers - Copolymers
Most polymer chains are made up of one type of monomer (for example, red beads)
However, some polymers are made up of different types of monomers (for example, blue and red beads) - these are called copolymers

24. Copolymers There are four main types of copolymers
The different monomers can be arranged either in an alternating or random fashion
Alternating
...-red-blue-red-blue-red-blue-red-blue-red-…
Random
…-blue-red-red-blue-red-blue-blue-red-blue-…

25. Copolymers There are also block copolymers and graft co-polymers Block
…-R-R-R-R-R-R-B-B-B-B-B-B-R-R-R-R-R-R-…
Graft
…-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-… |
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-…

26. Polymers - Pros and Cons
A polymer has many very advantageous properties. Polymers are:
Lightweight
Strong and durable
Cheap
Easy to manufacture
Unfortunately, polymers do not easily biodegrade and end up producing large amounts of waste

27. Uses of Polymers
Polymers are incorporated into nearly every aspect of daily life
Entertainment
Sports
Clothes
Hobbies/Toys
Household products
Automotive

28. Polymer Chemistry A polymer chain is built on a Carbon backbone
A monomer unit consists of a small carbon chain attached to a specific type of functional group
The functional group is what gives each polymer chain its individual characteristics

29. Polymer Chemistry
As previously stated, polymer chains interact with one another, becoming entangled
Polymer chains also form cross-links with adjacent chains, which allows the polymer to hold its shape and gives added strength

30. Summary
Polymers are made up of large chains of repeating units, called monomers
Individual chains interact to form a stronger overall substance through entanglements and cross-links
Polymers are incorporated into almost every aspect of daily life
Polymers are lightweight, strong, and inexpensive