Transcript Slide 1

Polymer
Poly (many)
mer (parts)
According to the amount of repeating units
Monomer
Oligomer
It consists of one It consists of a few
repeating unit
repeating units
It has properties
which do vary
significantly with the
removal of one or a
few of the units
vinyl chloride,
amino acid,
glucose
Sucrose
Polymer
It consists of a nearly
unlimited number of
repeating units
Addition or removal of
one or a few of the
units has a negligible
effect on the molecular
properties
PVC, protein,
carbohydrate
According to the kinds of applied monomers
One kind
: Homopolymer
Two kinds
: Copolymer
Three kinds : Terpolymer
Types of copolymer
According to the origin of the polymer
Natural polymer
Starch, cellulose,
rubber, enzyme,
protein, etc.
Synthetic polymer
Fibers, elastomers,
plastics, adhesives,
etc.
According to the structure of the polymer
Linear
Crosslinked
Branched
Network
According to the structure of the molecules in solid state
According to the polymer architectures
(a) star polymer
(c)ladder polymer
(b) comb polymer
(d) semi- ladder
(or stepladder) polymer
(f) polycatenane
(e) polyrotaxane
(g) dendrimer
POLYMER CHEMISTRY
Based on how the atoms in a molecule (large or small)
are hooked together
•
Fiber:
Fibers are linear polymers with high symmetry and
high intermolecular forces that result usually from
the presence of polar groups.
They are characterized by high modulus, high tensile
strength, and moderate extensibilities (usually less
than 20%)
•
Elastomer:
molecules with irregular structure, weak intermolecular
attractive forces, and very flexible polymer chains.
Chain segments of elastomers can undergo high local mobility,
but the gross mobility of chains is restricted, usually by the
introduction of a few cross-links into the structure. In the
absence of applied (tensile) stress, molecules of elastomers
usually assume coiled shapes.
Consequently, elastomers exhibit high extensibility (up to
1000%) from which they recover rapidly on the removal of the
imposed stress. Elastomers generally have low initial modulus
in tension, but when stretched they stiffen.
•
Plastic:
fall between the structural extremes represented by fibers and
elastomers
Based on thermal behavior
Thermoplastics:
• Upon cooling, the polymer hardens and assumes the shape
of the mold (container).
• Thermoplastics, when compounded with appropriate
ingredients, can usually withstand several of these heating
and cooling cycles without suffering any structural
breakdown. This behavior is similar to that of candle wax.
• Examples of thermoplastic polymers are polyethylene,
polystyrene, and nylon.
• Thermoplastic polymers are composed mainly of linear and
branched molecules.
• Linear and branched polymers consist of molecules that are not
chemically tied together. It is therefore possible for individual
chains to slide past one another.
• At low temperatures, a thermoplastic polymer (both
crystalline and amorphous) exists as a hard and rigid glass.
• As the temperature is increased, it changes from a glass to
a rubbery elastomer to a viscous melt that is capable of
flowing — hence this phase is also known as the flow
region.
Thermoset:
• It is a polymer that, when heated, undergoes a chemical
change to produce a cross-linked, solid polymer.
• Thermosets usually exist initially as liquids called
prepolymers; they can be shaped into desired forms by the
application of heat and pressure, but are incapable of
undergoing repeated cycles of softening and hardening.
• Examples of thermosetting polymers include urea–
formaldehyde, phenol–formaldehyde, and epoxies.
• Thermosets are made up of cross-linked systems  chains
will not flow freely even under the application of heat and
pressure.
• The modulus remains high in the rubbery region, while the
flow region disappears.
Depending on the distribution and degree of the chemical
bonds of the polymers, elastomeric materials can have
properties or characteristics similar to thermosets or
thermoplastics, so elastomeric materials can be classified
into:
•
Thermoset Elastomers - are those elastomer materials
which do not melt when heated.
•
Thermoplastic Elastomers - are those elastomers which
melt when heated.
Properties of elastomer materials:
• Can not melt, before melting they pass into a gaseous
state
• Swell in the presence of certain solvents
• Are generally insoluble.
• Are flexible and elastic.
• Lower creep resistance than the thermoplastic
materials
Based on polymerization mechanism
Condensation polymers are formed from a series of reactions, often
of condensation type, in which any two species (monomers, dimers,
trimers, etc.) can react at any time leading to a larger molecule. In
condensation polymerization, the stepwise reaction occurs
between the chemically reactive groups or functional groups on the
reacting molecules. In the process, a small molecule, usually water
or ammonia, is eliminated.
Examples of condensation polymers include polyamides (e.g., nylon
6,6); polyesters (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate); and ureaformaldehyde and phenol–formaldehyde resins
Addition polymers are produced by reactions in which
monomers are added one after another to a rapidly
growing chain. The growing polymer in addition
polymerization proceeds via a chain mechanism.
Like all chain reactions, three fundamental steps are
involved: initiation, propagation, and termination.
Monomers generally employed in addition polymerization are unsaturated (usually with carbon-carbon
double bonds).
Examples of addition polymers are polystyrene,
polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile, poly(methyl
methacrylate), and poly(vinyl chloride).
Ring-opening polymerization polymers are derived from
the cleavage and then polymerization of cyclic
compounds.
According to the end use of the polymer
• diene polymers (rubber industry);
• olefin polymer (sheet, film, and fiber industries); and
• acrylics (coating and decorative materials).
Molecular structure of a particle of polyethylene
HDPE
LDPE
Molecular structure of a particle of polycarbonate
(material for CD and DVD)
color coding: hydrogen (white), carbon (grey), oxygen (red)
Polycarbonate products
Acrylic glass (PMMA), chemical structure. Main component of acrylic paint (latex)
and acrylic glass. Atoms are represented as spheres with conventional color
coding: hydrogen (white), carbon (grey), oxygen (red)
PMMA products
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) polyester plastic, chemical structure.
Mainly used in synthetic fibers and plastic bottles. Atoms are represented as
spheres with conventional color coding: hydrogen (white), carbon (grey),
oxygen (red)
PET products
1: PET or PETE
This is the thin, clear plastic used for bottled water, soda, juices,
condiments, etc. This plastic can contain trace amount of the
endocrine-disrupting BPA, which has been linked to breast and
uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, decreased
testosterone levels, birth defects, and other reproductive issues.
While PET/PETE is relatively stable at normal temperatures, it will
leech readily when exposed to heat such as when left in a car. It is
for this reason that consumers are advised not to keep water
bottles in the car. Since the plastic degrades with use, it is advised
to not reuse these plastic products.
VERDICT→ Moderate hazard
2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
This is the thicker, more opaque plastic found in milk and water
jugs, juice bottles, detergent, shampoo, and motor oil containers,
and toys. Unlike #1, these are safe to refill and reuse.
VERDICT→ Low hazard
3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
PVC has been around the block. It’s found in everything from
shower curtains to baby bibs, mattress covers, shampoo and
liquid soap bottles, cling wrap, cooking oil bottles, and much
more. PVC contains endocrine-disrupting phthalates, which
have been linked to reproductive problems and birth
defects. The cherry on top: the PVC manufacturing process
releases dioxin into the environment, a potent carcinogen that
bio-accumulates in our bodies, meaning it stays there for a very
long time, if not forever. It also bio-accumulates in animals’
bodies, such as the ones most of us consume, which then make
their way into our bodies after we eat them. It is not surprising
that workers that manufacture or work with PVC have higher
cancer rates.
VERDICT→ High hazard
4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
This plastic is used to create flexible plastics products like
grocery story bags, plastic food storage bags, bread bags,
frozen food packaging bags, plastic wrap, dry cleaning bags,
and garbage bags.
VERDICT→ Low hazard
5: PP (Polypropylene)
This plastic is used to create hard but flexible plastic products
like yogurt containers, drinking straws, syrup bottles, salad bar
containers, and diapers.
VERDICT→ Low hazard
6: PS (Polystyrene)
Found in rigid plastics such as opaque plastic spoons and forks,
and in Styrofoam. These plastics can leach styrene, a known
neurotoxin with other negative health effects.
VERDICT→ High hazard
7: Other
This symbol includes a range of plastic materials. It includes
polycarbonate, which contains the endocrine-disrupting chemical
BPA and is most commonly used to for baby bottles, sports water
bottles, large 5-gallon water jugs, plastic cutlery, and in the lining
of food and baby formula cans.
VERDICT→ High hazard