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193247
Polymer Chemistry
Abstract
The following lab report discusses the preparation of polystyrene using free radical initiator
which is a type of addition polymerization by following a certain procedure where at its end, a
solution is filtered on a filtering sheet where the precipitate of polystyrene is collected by this
sheet. Then solubility tests for polystyrene take place where it was tested in water, distilled water
and ethanol and found insoluble while in benzene, acetone and hexane it was found soluble.
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Table of contents
Abstract..........................................................................................................................................2
Table of contents............................................................................................................................3
Introduction....................................................................................................................................4
Experimental materials.............................................................................................................8
Experimental procedure............................................................................................................9
Experimental results....................................................................................................................10
Discussion.....................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................12
Sources of error............................................................................................................................13
References.....................................................................................................................................14
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Introduction
Polymerization is any process in which relatively small molecules named monomers combine
chemically to produce a very large chainlike or network molecule called a polymer. Usually at
least 100 monomer molecules must be combined to make a product that has certain unique
physical properties that differentiate polymers from substances composed of smaller molecules.
Two classes of polymerization usually are found. In condensation polymerization, each step of
the process is accompanied by the formation of a molecule of some simple compound, often
water. In addition polymerization, monomers react to form a polymer without the formation of
by-products. Addition polymerizations usually are carried out in the presence of catalysts, which
in certain cases exert control over structural details that have important effects on the properties
Figure 1. polymers
proceeds. The mechanism of polymerization used in the synthesis of polymers allows for the
classification of the polymerization into two types, addition and condensation polymers. The
addition kind is produced by the repeated and sequential addition of monomers without the loss
of a smaller molecule during the process. Therefore, no by-product is produced and the repeating
unit of additional polymers has the same formula as the alkene or functionally-substituted alkene
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monomers used to make them. These addition reactions follow a stepwise mechanism that
involves reactive intermediates such as radicals or ions that help in the conversion of a pi bond in
the monomer into a sigma bond in the polymer. The four different polymerization techniques
used in the synthesis of addition polymers are free radical polymerization, cationic
follows three steps namely, initiation, propagation, and termination. During initiation, a molecule
called a radical initiator is broken down into free radicals either thermally or photolytically. A
radical then attacks the pi bond in the alkene monomer forming a covalent bond with one of the
carbon atoms and turning the other one into a reactive radical. The propagation stage then
follows with the latter continuously adding on more monomers and growing into a chain.
Termination of chain growth finally occurs when the radical chains either combine or participate
in disproportionation reactions involving pulling hydrogen from another radical chain. Cationic
and anionic polymerization follows an overall similar pathway with their initiators being strong
acids and Lewis acids, or strong bases, alkali metals, and organolithium compounds (Babooram,
2020).
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Polystyrene is one of the largest volume vinyl polymers, used in countless products from food-
packing and plastic cutlery to house insulation. The primary reasons for its great popularity are
its low cost, high transparency, good mechanical properties and ease of coloring, foaming, and
polymerization of styrene. The most common method is free radical polymerization, using
benzoyl peroxide as initiator. However, other initiators such as redox systems and azo
compounds can be used as well to start the polymerization. The reaction is exothermic, and thus
the monomer-polymer mixture must be cooled where the mechanism is illustrated in the
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Polystyrene has huge number of uses. Polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene as its more
often referred to, is mainly used within the packaging industry, used as a high impact packaging
solution to protect a large range of products from damage during transport or storage. As a hard,
solid plastic, it is often used in products that require clarity, such as food packaging and
laboratory ware. When combined with various colorants, additives or other plastics, polystyrene
is used to make appliances, electronics, automobile parts, toys, gardening pots and equipment
microwaves, vacuum cleaners, blenders – these and other appliances often are made with
polystyrene (solid and foam) because it is inert (doesn’t react with other materials), cost-effective
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and long-lasting. In Automotive, polystyrene (solid and foam) is used to make many car parts,
including knobs, instrument panels, trim, energy absorbing door panels and sound dampening
foam. Foam polystyrene also is widely used in child protective seats. In foodservice, polystyrene
foodservice packaging typically insulates better, keeps food fresher longer and costs less than
alternatives. In medical field, due to its clarity and ease of sterilization, polystyrene is used for a
wide range of medical applications, including tissue culture trays, test tubes, petri dishes,
diagnostic components, housings for test kits and medical devices (Polystyrene, n.d.).
Experimental materials
1. 200 ml methanol.
2. 30 ml styrene.
3. 30 ml NaOH.
4. 2 g CaCO3.
6. 20 ml toluene.
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7. Analytical balance.
8. Separating funnel.
9. Graduated cylinders.
10. Thermometer.
Experimental procedure
1. If the styrene contains an inhibitor, the inhibitor must first be removed. To do this,
10% NaOH. Shake the contents several times while properly venting for 1 minute.
2. Separate the styrene from the separatory funnel and place into a beaker. Add
approximately 2 grams of calcium carbonate into the styrene and stir. This will dry your
styrene. Keep the inhibitor free styrene in a suitable brown glass bottle.
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using 10 mL graduated cylinder to a 20- x 150-mm test tube and add 0.3 g of benzoyl
peroxide.
4. Place the test tube in a beaker half full of water on a hot plate or a water bath. Maintain
5. After 60 minutes remove the test tube, allow the contents to cool for 5 minutes, and note
the viscosity of the solution. Pour the solution into 200 mL of methanol contained in a
6. Collect the polystyrene by filtration using a Büchner funnel and wash the precipitate on
the funnel with 50 mL of methanol. Remove the precipitate from the funnel and spread it
7. Place 3 mL of acetone, water, distilled water, benzene, ethanol and hexane in clean test
tubes and add 0.2 g of dried polymer. Stir the mixtures then leave it to see if it is soluble.
Experimental results
After collecting polystyrene from the filtering papers, solubility tests where performed using
Solvent Solubility
Water Insoluble
Benzene Soluble
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Ethanol Insoluble
Acetone Soluble
Hexane Soluble
Discussion
After polystyrene was filtrated and dried, test tubes were used to test its solubility in many
solvents. The first solvent was water where in lab, polystyrene didn’t dissolve in water. This is
true such that polystyrene doesn’t dissolve in water where it is resistant to water and moisture.
This means that it does not absorb them and that its insulating performance is not compromised
when in contact with these elements. Second one was distilled water which has the same exact
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behavior just like water. Third solvent was benzene, polystyrene dissolved in benzene
completely Since polystyrene only contains carbon hydrogen bonds, it is nonpolar and will only
dissolve in nonpolar solvents like benzene, because like dissolves like. Fourth one was ethanol
where in lab, polystyrene didn’t dissolve in ethanol. While theoretically polystyrene should
dissolve in ethanol but may be there were errors in the concentration of the used methanol or
may it need more time. Then comes acetone were polystyrene dissolved in it which is
theoretically true where like dissolves like, This is why the non-polar polystyrene dissolves in
acetone but not water and the polar starch molecules dissolve in water but not acetone. The last
one was hexane where it dissolved in hexane which isn’t theoretically true as it shouldn’t
dissolve in hexane due to low molecular weight where an error in test tubes labeling may have
Conclusion
The aim of this experiment was to prepare polystyrene using free radical initiator which is
benzoyl peroxide where it was prepared in lab using addition polymerization and preparing the
polystyrene to be put in a water bath for an hour then using methanol to get all the precipitate by
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the usage of funnel and filtration sheets the solubility of polystyrene was tested using many
solvents where it was found soluble in some of them and insoluble in others.
Sources of error
The preparation of polystyrene is considered as a qualitative analysis where the slight difference
in concentrations doesn’t cause huge errors, but it should be somehow accurate. Errors may be
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found in the concentrations of the used substances such as inhibitors, methanol, NaOH or
benzoyl peroxide where any defect in their concentrations may cause errors. Human errors can
be found in not following the procedure or missing some of the steps like using the water bath
where this can be avoided by being very careful in following the procedure.
References
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https://polymerdatabase.com/polymer%20chemistry/Polystyrene.html
direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/mechanisms-of-
polymerization
https://www.britannica.com/science/polymerization
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