Introduction

• Polymer is a large molecule that is in the form of a long chain with a high relative
molecular mass (RMM).
• It is made up of many smaller units called monomers, which are joined together
through a process called polymerisation. Thus the monomer is actually the
repititive unit of a long polymer chain.

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• There are two types of polymers:

1. Natural polymers
2. Synthetic polymers

[edit] Natural Polymers

• These occur naturally in living things. Some examples of natural polymers are:

1. Natural rubber
2. Protein in meat, leather, silk, hair and fur
3. Carbohydrates in cellulose, starch and sugar

• Natural polymers are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.

• Natural rubber comprises the molecules of the monomer 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene,
also called isopropene, joined together to form a long chain, as in:

picture

• Protein is obtained by the combination of amino acid molecules which represent

the monomer units.

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• Carbohydrates are formed through the combination of glucose molecule which act
as the monomer.

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[edit] Synthetic Polymers

• Synthetic polymer is a polymer that is manufactured in industry from chemical
substances through the polymerisation process. Through research, scientists are
now able to copy the structure of natural polymers to produce synthetic polymers.
• Plastics, synthetic fibres and elastomers are examples of synthetic polymers.
• The raw materials for the manufacture of synthetic polymers are distillates of
petroleum.
• The two types of polymerisation are:

1. polymerisation by addition
2. polymerisation by condensation

• Polymerisation by addition involves monomers with >C = C< bonding, where the
monomers join together to make a long chain without losing any simple
molecules from it. Examples of polymers produced through this process are
polythene, PVC perspex and other plastics.

• Polymerisation by condensation involves the elimination of small molecules like

water, methanol, ammonia or hydrogen chloride during the process. Examples of
products of this process are terylene and nylon-66.
Plastics

• Plastics are light, strong and do not react with any chemical substances, like acids
and alkalis. They can be made into many shapes and sizes. They are also good
insulators of heat and electricity.

Plastics (Addition ) Structure Uses

Polythene (polyethylene)
Polyvinyl chloride or
PVC(polychloroethene)
Polystyrene(polyphenylethene)
Perspex (polymethyl2-methyl
propene)
Polypropene
Teflon(polytetrafluoroethene or
Plastic bags, containers and cups
picture
–light; cannot tear easily
raincoat, pipes, to insulate electric wires
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–can be coloured; heat resistant
Packaging materials, children toys, ball-
point pens, as heat and electric insulators
picture
– light and strong
Aeroplane window panes, lenses, car
lamp covers
picture
–light, strong, translucent, stable towards
sunlight
Plastics, bottles, plastic tables and chairs
picture
–strong and light
picture To make non-stick pots and pans
PTFE) –hard, can withstand high temperatures
and corrosives chemicals

Synthetic rubber

• Synthetic rubber is an elastomer or polymer which regains its size original shape
after being pulled or pressed. [Natural rubber is an elastomer too.]
• Examples of synthetic rubber are neoprene and styrene-butadiene(SBR).

Synthetic rubber (Addition )

It is used to make
Neoprene picture * rubber gloves and
* to insulate electric wires.
SBR is used to make
* tyres,
Styrene-butadiene or SBR picture
* soles of shoes and
* mechanical belts.

Synthetic Fibre

• Nylon and terylene are synthetic fibres which undergo the condensation
polymerisation process.
• These fibres resemble natural fibres but more resistant to stress and chemicals,
and more long-lasting.
• In both cases, water is eliminated during the polymerisation process.

Nylon

Picture Nylon is used to make

• umbrellas
• curtains
• socks
• carpets
• nylon string and rope
• toothbrush
• comb and so on
[Terylene

Picture Terylene is used to make

• fishing nets
• clothes (quick-dry, non-iron)
• cassette and video tapes

Issue in using synthetic polymer

• Synthetic polymers have multiple uses in daily life because of the following
properties:

1. Light and strong

2. Cheap
3. Withstand corrosion and chemical reaction
4. Withstand action of water

• Synthetic polymers are also used to replace natural polymers such as cotton, silk
and rubber.
• However, synthetic polymers cause environmental pollution.

1. Most polymers are not biodegradable . Polymers cannot be decomposed

biologically or naturally by bacteria or fungi as in the case of other garbage. Thus,
the disposal of polymers has resulted in environmental pollution because they
remain in the environment forever.
2. Plastic containers and bottles strewn around become good breeding places for
mosquitoes which cause dengue fever, or malaria.
3. The open burning of plastics gives rise to poisonous and acidic gases like carbon
monoxide, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide. These are harmful to the
environment as they cause acid rain.
4. Burning of plastics can also produce carbon dioxide, too much of this gas in the
atmosphere leads to the `green house effect'.

• The raw materials used to manufacture synthetic polymers are petroleum and its
by-products. Petroleum is a non-renewable source of fuel which is fast
diminishing from the earth's crust.
• This problem can be overcome by the following ways:

1. Recycling polymers: Plastics can be decomposed by heating them without oxygen

at 700°C. This process is called pyrolysis. The products of this process are then
recycled into new products.
2. Inventing biodegradable polymers: Such polymers should be mixed with
substances that can be decomposed by bacteria (to become biodegradable) or light
(to become photodegradable) .