1. Professor: Michael Eastman Ph.D. Assistant: David Chavez-Flores
Polymers
Professor: Michael Eastman Ph.D.
Assistant: David Chavez-Flores

2. Polymer
Polymers are made up of many many molecules all strung together to form really long chains.
Poly- means "many" and -mer means "part" or "segment".

3. Polymers: Introduction
Polymer: High molecular weight molecule made up of a small repeat unit (monomer).
Homopolymer
A-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 polymer
Oligomer: Short polymer chain
Copolymer: polymer made up of 2 or more monomers
Random copolymer: A-B-B-A-A-B-A-B-A-B-B-B-A-A-B
Alternating copolymer: A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B
Block copolymer: A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B

4. Types of Polymers Polymer Classifications
Thermoset: cross-linked polymer that cannot be melted (tires, rubber bands)
Thermoplastic: Meltable plastic
Elastomers: Polymers that stretch and then return to their original form: often thermoset polymers
Thermoplastic elastomers: Elastic polymers that can be melted (soles of tennis shoes)
Polymer Families
Polyolefins: made from olefin (alkene) monomers
Polyesters, Amides, Urethanes, etc.: monomers linked by ester, amide, urethane or other functional groups
Natural Polymers: Polysaccharides, DNA, proteins

5. Common Polyolefins

6. Polyesters, Amides, and Urethanes

7. Natural Polymers

8. Making polyvinyl acetate
Monomer - Vinyl Acetate
Solvent - Water
Initiator –Potassium Persulfate

9. Overall Reaction

10. Initiator
Bond brakes homolytically

11. Initiator

12. End of the reaction

13. Procedure
Place the exact amount of every reagent in a round bottom flask.
Vinyl Acetate 10 ml
Potassium Persulfate 0.1 g
Water 10 ml

15. Set Up

19. Final Product

20. Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides and first produced on February 28, 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont . Nylon is one of the most commonly used polymers
Was used to replace Asian silk and hemp with nylon in parachutes in the World war II.
Was also used to make tires, tents, ropes, ponchos, and other military supplies

21. Nylon

22. Reaction Video Carleton Professor bob Burk from University, Ottawa, Canada

23. Demonstrations Making a rubber ball Diaper polymer Teflon Plastic bag
Diaper polymer
Teflon
Plastic bag
Carbon fiber video

24. Science goals Produce more application-specific polymers
Produce biodegradable polymers
Dispose correctly of the polymers
Recycle the existing polymers

25. Bad disposal consequences

26. Questions
Is cotton a synthetic or natural polymer?

27. What kind of polymer is the white glue?
Homopolymer
Alternating copolymer
Block copolymer
Random copolymer
Besides of the monomer what else do you need to start a polymerization reaction?
(a) A radical
(b) An atom
(c) Water

28. Thank You
David Chavez