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Polymers Chemistry Project
Polymers Chemistry Project
Chemistry Project
Roll No.:
Teacher’s Signature
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
iii
General Overview 1
1. Bakelite * 3
2. Polystyrene 7
3. Epoxy Resin 11
Result 15
References 16
I am very greatful to my chemistry teacher, Ms. Sadhana Bhargava, who has been a
constant source of
inspiration and guidance. She supported me with all my ideas and helped me to the
maximum extend
possible. She also gave me enough extra time to find all the required information
to turn my ideas into a
single project. Even though what I initially wanted to make (conductive Polymers)
wasn’t possible to do
with our existing lab apparatus, yet she encouraged me to search for something
similar, yet interesting
enough for me. This project would never have existed, if it wasn’t for her passion
to teach.
I would also like to thank our lab assistant, Mr. Babu Lal for all the timely help
he provided. Apart from
this, I would like to thank all those people who’ve published their useful work on
the internet, without
which, I perhaps wouldn’t even have enough information to make even a single
polymer.
Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
General Overview
A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecule) composed of repeating structural
units typically
connected by covalent chemical bonds. While polymer in popular usage suggests
plastic, the term
actually refers to a large class of natural and synthetic materials with a
variety of properties.
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Chemistry Project
Natural polymers (from the Greek poly meaning “many” and meros
meaning “parts”) are found in many forms such as horns of animals,
tortoise shell, rosin (from pine trees), and from distillation of organic
materials.
One of the most useful of the natural polymers was rubber, obtained
from the sap of the hevea tree. (Rubber was named by a chemist
found that a piece of solidified latex gum was good for rubbing out
pencil marks on paper. In Great Britain, erasers are still called
“rubbers”.)
Natural rubber had only limited use as it became brittle in the cold
and melted when warmed. In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered,
through a lucky accident, that by heating the latex with sulfur, the
properties were changed making the rubber more flexible and
Image 2.2
temperature stable. That process became known as vulcanization.
Level of Caution
1. Bakelite
Brief
Description
Bakelite is a material based on the thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin,
developed in 1907–1909
by Belgian Dr. Leo Baekeland. Formed by the reaction under heat and pressure of
phenol (a toxic,
colourless crystalline solid) and formaldehyde (a simple organic compound),
generally with a wood flour
filler, it was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It was used for
its electrically nonconductive
and heat-resistant properties in radio and telephone casings and electrical
insulators, and was also used in
such diverse products as kitchenware, jewellery, pipe stems, and children's
toys. In 1993 Bakelite was
designated an ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark in recognition of its
significance as the
world's first synthetic plastic.
The retro appeal of old Bakelite products and labor intensive manufacturing has
made them quite
collectible in recent years.
Image 6.1 shows the structure of bakelite.
Image
3.1
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Chemistry Project
Precautions
1. Wear safety goggles at all times in the laboratory.
5. Work under a hood and wear gloves and protective clothing when working with
these materials.
Materials Needed
Chemicals: Apparatus:
1. 25g 40% formaldehyde 1. 150-mL beaker
2. 20 g phenol 2. stirring rod
3. 55 mL glacial acetic acid
4. conc Hydrochloric acid
Procedure
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
What
actually happened
I was slightly nervous to try out something absolutely new and was uncertain of
its results. I took the
chemicals given to me by Baboolal sir and followed the instructions. I took the
phenol-formaldehyde
reaction mixture in a beaker, placed it over a sheet of paper. Took a test tube
full of HCl, and added it to
the beaker slowly with constant stirring. And by slowly I mean I almost emptied
the test tube in about
two minutes. I couldn’t figure the polymerization point as no precipitate
appeared. Thinking there’s
something wrong with the procedure, I went to ask for ma’ams advice. She asked
me to indirectly heat it.
Due to certain reasons, I didn’t hear indirectly and heated the beaker over the
flame for about 30
seconds. Nothing happened. Depressed, I walked away from it wondering what to do
next. And then
suddenly there was this loud noise of some kind of explosion. It was the beaker.
All the contents had
poured out like foam, except solid. It was light pink in color. It had lots of
pours in it and kind of looked
like pumice stone. Ma’am said it happened because I’d supplied a lot of heat by
direct heating, and it
seemed the most plausible explanation to it and so to obtain a proper polymer, I
modified the
experimental setup after discussing it with ma’am.
I set up a large water filled beaker on a tripod stand with wire gauze and in a
boiling tube took the reaction
mixture. I fixed this boiling tube using a clamp stand, half dipped in the
beaker so that the contents were
evenly heated. I added the same amount HCl as before, except this time, I added
a few drops after every
30 seconds. This time, after 3 minutes, I could see something suddenly happen in
the boiling tube. I
alerted ma’am but again it exploded. The sudden reaction broke the boiling tube,
and caused a crack in
the beaker. I collected the polymer and washed it. Its physical appearance was
the same as before.
Both these experiments suggested that the reaction was extremely fast, but its
activation energy was fairly
high. So no matter if its directly heated, or indirectly, the moment it gains
sufficient energy, the
polymerization starts rapidly.
intermediate
High AE
energy
reactant
product
reaction progress
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Chemistry Project
For determining the optimum conditions for the synthesis of Bakelite, I decided to
take a reaction mixture
in a beaker, heat it to a certain temperature (indirectly), and then add HCl to
find out the optimum
temperature. I chose beaker over boiling tube, because as was apparent by the
pores, greater the surface
area, safer it would be to carry out the reaction.
Temperature Observations
40-35 *C No observable changes
50-45 *C Turbidity started apearing
60-55 *C Roughly Polymerization started
75-60 *C Semi Solid appeared at the bottom of the beaker
30-25 *C At long standing, the color changed to dark pink
Property Analysis
Test
Result
Flexibility Brittle
Strength Low
Bounciness Negligible
Color Dark Pink
Texture Slightly Porous
Inertness Stable in air at
room temp.
Chemistry Behind it
Phenol and Formaldehyde react in the following manner to make the polymer.
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
+ +
Level of Caution
2. POLYSTYRENE
Brief
Description
Polystyrene (pronounced /ˌpɒliˈstaɪriːn/) (IUPAC Poly(1-phenylethane-1,2-diyl)),
sometimes
abbreviated PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the aromatic monomer styrene, a
liquid hydrocarbon
that is commercially manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry.
Polystyrene is one of the most
widely used kinds of plastic.
Polystyrene is a thermoplastic substance, which is in solid (glassy) state at
room temperature, but flows if
heated above its glass transition temperature (for molding or extrusion), and
becoming solid again when
cooling off. Pure solid polystyrene is a colorless, hard plastic with limited
flexibility. It can be cast into
molds with fine detail. Polystyrene can be transparent or can be made to take on
various colors.
Solid polystyrene is used, for example, in disposable cutlery, plastic models,
CD and DVD cases, and
smoke detector housings. Products made from foamed polystyrene are nearly
ubiquitous, for example
packing materials, insulation, and foam drink cups.
Polystyrene can be recycled, and has the number "6" as its recycling symbol.
Polystyrene does not
biodegrade, and is often abundant as a form of pollution in the outdoor
environment, particularly along
shores and waterways.
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Chemistry Project
Precautions
1. Wear safety goggles at all times in the laboratory.
2. Styrene may pose health risks if it comes in contact with the body.
4. Work under a hood and wear gloves and protective clothing when working with
these materials.
Materials Needed
Chemicals: Apparatus:
1. Vinyl Benzene (Styrene Casting Resin) 1. Test tubes
2. Methyl ethyl ketone (Casting resin catalyst) 2. Stirring rod
3. Thermostat
4. Measuring Cylinder
5. a 5 mL Syringe
6. Stop Watch
Procedure
Take 4 clean, numbered test tubes and to each add 3mL of Vinyl Benzene.
Fill the syringe with methyl ethyl ketone.
Start the stop watch.
Make the volume of Vinyl Benzene in test tube one equal to 5 mL.
Now note the time as you add 5 divisions of the syringe, i.e. 0.5 mL to test tube
one and stir it well.
Repeat the above 2 steps with 4.5 mL of Vinyl Benzene and 1.0 mL of methyl ethyl
ketone, in the second
test tube and so one.
Place these in the thermostat with temperature set to 40 *C.
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
3.5
3
2.5
2
Time
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Concentration
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Chemistry Project
Property Analysis
Test Result
Flexibility Low
Strength Medium
Bounciness Negligible
Color Yellowish,
Transparent
Texture Smooth
Inertness Stable in air at
room temp.
Chemistry Behind it
The chemical makeup of polystyrene is a long chain hydrocarbon with every other
carbon connected to a
phenyl group (the name given to the aromatic ring benzene, when bonded to complex
carbon substituents).
Polystyrene's chemical formula is (C8H8)n; it contains the chemical elements carbon
and hydrogen. Because
it is an aromatic hydrocarbon, it burns with an orange-yellow flame, giving off
soot, as opposed to non-
aromatic hydrocarbon polymers such as polyethylene, which burn with a light yellow
flame (often with a blue
tinge) and no soot. Complete oxidation of polystyrene produces only carbon dioxide
and water vapor.
This addition polymer of styrene results when vinyl benzene styrene monomers (which
contain double bonds
between carbon atoms) attach to form a polystyrene chain (with each carbon attached
with a single bond to
two other carbons and a phenyl group).
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
Level of Caution
3. EPOXY RESIN
Brief
Description
Epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting polymer formed from reaction of an
epoxide "resin" with
polyamine "hardener". Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including fiber-
reinforced plastic materials
and general purpose adhesives.
Credit for the first synthesis of bisphenol-A-based epoxy resins is shared by
Dr. Pierre Castan of
Switzerland and Dr. S.O. Greenlee of the United States in 1936.
The applications for epoxy-based materials are extensive and include coatings,
adhesives and composite
materials such as those using carbon fiber and fiberglass reinforcements
(although polyester, vinyl ester,
and other thermosetting resins are also used for glass-reinforced plastic). The
chemistry of epoxies and the
range of commercially available variations allows cure polymers to be produced
with a very broad range of
properties. In general, epoxies are known for their excellent adhesion, chemical
and heat resistance,
good-to-excellent mechanical properties and very good electrical insulating
properties. Many properties
of epoxies can be modified (for example silver-filled epoxies with good
electrical conductivity are
available, although epoxies are typically electrically insulating). Variations
offering high thermal insulation,
or thermal conductivity combined with high electrical resistance for electronics
applications, are available.
Precautions
1. Wear safety goggles at all times in the laboratory.
3. Both the chemicals are sticky so avoid contact with bare hands.
4. Work under a hood and wear gloves and protective clothing when working with
these materials.
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Chemistry Project
Materials Needed
Chemicals:
1. Epoxy Resin (formed by reaction between +
epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A) Apparatus:
1. Test tubes
2. Stirring
rod
2. Hardener (Triethylenetetramine) 3. Thermostat
4. Measuring
Cylinder
5. a 5 mL
Syringe
Procedure 6. Stop Watch
Take 4 clean, numbered test tubes and to each add 3mL of Resin.
Fill the syringe with Triethylenetetramine .
Start the stop watch.
Make the volume of Resin in test tube one equal to 5 mL.
Now note the time as you add 5 divisions of the syringe, i.e. 0.5 mL to test tube
one and stir it well.
Repeat the above 2 steps with 4.5 mL of Resin and 1.0 mL of
Triethylenetetramine , in the second test tube
and so one.
Place these in the thermostat with temperature set to 40 *C.
Repeat all the steps and keep this set at room temperature. (7 *C)
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
at 40 *C
30
25
20
Time (min) 15
10
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Concentration
at 7 *C
180
160
140
120
100
Time (min)
80
60
40
20
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Concentration
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Chemistry Project
at 7 *C
Concentration of catalyst Time taken to cure
Appearance
0.5 170 minutes almost
clear
1.0 150 minutes almost
clear, ‘starry’
1.5 130 minutes fewer
bubbles, transparent
2.0 95 minutes bubbles,
almost transparent
Property Analysis
Test
Result
Flexibility Low
Strength High
Bounciness Negligible
Color Transparent
Texture Smooth
Inertness Stable in air
at room temp.
Unreactive to
Acids
Chemistry Behind it
Epoxy is a copolymer; that is, it is formed from two different chemicals. These are
referred to as the "resin" and
the "hardener". The resin consists of monomers or short chain polymers with an
epoxide group at either end.
Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and
bisphenol-A, though
the latter may be replaced by similar chemicals. The hardener consists of polyamine
monomers, for example
Triethylenetetramine (TETA). When these compounds are mixed together, the amine
groups react with the
epoxide groups to form a covalent bond. Each NH group can react with an epoxide
group, so that the
resulting polymer is heavily crosslinked, and is thus rigid and strong.
The process of polymerization is called "curing", and can be controlled through
temperature and choice of resin
and hardener compounds; the process can take minutes to hours. Some formulations
benefit from heating
during the cure period, whereas others simply require time, and ambient
temperatures.
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
+ +
RESULT
Bakelite
It’s optimum synthesis temperature range was found to be 70-80 *C. Its
synthesis requires high
activation energy but the reaction is kinetically very fast.
Polystyrene
It cures faster at higher concentrations of the catalyst. The strength of
the polymer was independent of
the concentration ratio of the resin and catalyst. Its kinetics are complex as
its concentration v/s curing time
graph was found to be irregular. The optimum temperature range for synthesis of
this polymer was found to be
over 40 *C at the tested concentrations of the catalyst.
Epoxy Resin
It cures faster at high concentrations of its catalyst. It also cures
faster at higher temperature. The
strength of the polymer was independent of the concentration ratio of the resin
and catalyst. The reaction may
be following first order kinetics as the concentration v/s curing time graph was
found to be close to linear. The
optimum temperature range for synthesis of this polymer was found to be 5-10 *C
at the tested
concentrations of the catalyst.
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Chemistry Project
REFERENCES
http://www.google.co.in/webhp?hl=en
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1420502
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090717144012AAKmCyb
http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/plastics.htm
http://www.barrule.com/workshop/images/info/foams/index.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430229/
http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/styrene.htm
http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/sec_pfpg.asp?CID=1421&DID=5213
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Polymers Synthesis and Property Analysis
Chemistry Project
for any further details or clarification, suggestions etc., contact me
Email: toatularora@gmail.com ~ Cell: +91 9818055646 ~ Landline: +91 011 65683657