Transcript Polystyrene Synthesis

Polystyrene Synthesis
Uyen – Phuong Lam
Chem 12B SP 2006
Professor Adamczeski
Abstract
In this PowerPoint presentation I will introduce the properties of
plastics and how it was synthesized, an introduction to
polystyrene. The first discovered polystyrene was attempted by a
German pharmacist by the name Eduard Simon. It was later when
more chemists began to see the relationship between the polymer
polystyrene produce plastic. Plastic is very crucial to ours lives
because of its unique characteristic and properties. Even though
plastic is everywhere and it seems like we have a mass production
of it, we must look into what we can do to recycle plastic, because it
does take a long time to decompose plastics, to help improve the
polluted the environment. There are many different types and levels
of plastics. We must know what it takes a very long time to
completely decompose a plastic and therefore must recycle and be
wise about using plastic products. This presentation will focus on
the synthesis and structures of plastics as well as their
environmental ramifications.
Outline
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What is a polymer?
Define Polystyrene
Polystyrene Discovered
Synthesis of Polystyrene
Usage of Polystyrene
Environmental consequences
Characteristics of Plastics
Polymer
Polymer: something made of many units
called monomers joined together.
Polymers can be thought of as a chain.
Each link of the chains is the “-mer” or the
basic unit that is usually made of carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, and/or silicon. To
make the chain, many links of “-mers” are
hooked or polymerized together.
What does a polymer look like?
At a macro scale level, it would look
somewhat like a chain of paperclips
Discoveries of Polystyrene
- 1839: first synthesize by
German pharmacist, Eduard
Simon. Simon isolated
substance from natural resin;
however, he did not know
what he had discovered.
- Herman Staudinger, another
German organic chemist
relalize Simon’s discovery,
comprised styrene
molecules, was a plastic
polymer.
Synthesis of Polystyrene
A. Polystyrene: a plastic polymer made from monomer units of styrene,
a liquid hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from
petroleum, but can be melted at higher temperature for molding than
resolidified.
The chemical reaction for the synthesis of polystyrene is shown on top
Synthesis of Polystyrene
• Before we can
synthesize
polystyrene, we must
make its monomer
styrene
• Direct catalytic
dehydrogenation of
ethylbenzene is the
main manufacturing
course of styrene
Synthesis of Polystyrene
Once styrene is
produced, nearly
65% of it is then
used to produce
polystyrene.
The overall
reaction that
describes the
styrene
polymerization is
shown here.
Usage of Polystyrene
A.
Once synthesize polystyrene must be cross-linked before it could
produce plastic products.
B. Usage of Polystyrene:
1. Polypropylene: auto parts, washing machine agitators, house wares
2. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): milk bottles, pipes, shopping bags
3. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): film for packaging
4. Polyethylene terephtalate (PET): packaging, soft drinks bottle
Codes for Different Polystyrenes
Codes
Common uses
Plastic soft drinks, waters. Ovenable
Milk, shampoo, medicine bottles
PVC pipes, window frame, cable
insulation
Usable Polystyrene
Code
Common uses
Squeezable bottles, e.g. ketchup, honey.
Medicine, catsups bottles,
Egg cantons, plastic cup, plate, foam
3 or 5 gallons water bottle, plastic lumber
application
• DO recycle
– Soda, water, juice,
food jars, milk,
shampoo bottles
• DON’T recycle
– Motor oil bottles, antifreeze containers,
gasoline and oil
additive bottle
– Brown liquor Bottle
– All container with
these marks
• There a price that must
be paid for the
convenience we get from
using disposable cuts,
bowls, and Styrofoam.
– The waste product is
detrimental to the
environment.
– It takes ~500 years for a
Styrofoam cut to
completely breakdown.
Characteristic of Plastics
A. Very resistant to chemical
B. Both thermal and electrical insulator
C. Very light weight with varying degrees of
strength
D. Can be processed in various ways to
produce thin fibers of very intricate parts
E. Lates updates: “No clear resolution to
rising raw material prices” in plastics.
Bibliography
1. American Plastic Council <www.americanplasticscouncil.org>
2. The Plastic Today for the Technology Tomorrow
<ww.polymerplastics.com/history_plastics.shtml>
3. Plastic Fabricators <www.plastic-fabricators.com>
4. Hollo Plastics Equipment, INC
<http://www.holloplastics.com/plasticinfo/>
5. Ask Science Theatre
<www.pa.msu.edu/~sciencet/ask_st/090193.html>
6. Chemical & Engineering News: Plastics. Volume 83, Number 37.
September 12, 2005. Front Cover
7. Leung, Alfred B., Kwang I. Suh, and Rafat R. Ansari. "Particle-size
and velocity measurements in flowing conditions using dynamic
light scattering.(Author abstract)." Applied Optics 45.10 (April 1,
2006): 2186(5). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. CCL
San Jose City College. 30 April 2006