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Biodegradable Polymers
Relative
stereochemistry
of adjacent chiral
centers
Atactic
Syndiotactic Random arrangement
Alternating arrangement Eg. PVC, Polypropylene,
Eg. Natural Rubber polyethylene
➢ Synthetic Polymer
▪ Synthetic polymers are human-made polymers.
▪ They are commonly found in a variety of
consumer products. Various main chains and
side chains are used to make
different synthetic organic polymers.
▪ Eg. Polyethylene, PVC, nylon, etc
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Classification of Polymers
❑ Based on Polymerization Mechanism
Vinyl Group
Ethylene Propylene Vinyl Chloride Allyl Acetate
Propagation OR - - +
X/OCOR + - -
Peroxides
Benzoyl peroxide
Hydroperoxides Peresters
Azo compounds
Redox
ROOR + Fe2+ → RO– + Fe3++ RO• Azobisisobutyronitrile
H2O2 + Fe2+ → RO– + Fe3++ HO• (AIBN)
S2O82 – + Fe2+ → Fe3+ + SO22– + SO2• –
Lewis Acids: AlCl3, AlBr3, BF3, TiCl4, SnCl4 Organometallic compounds: (n-C4H9Li or
(To be effective, they need presence of Lewis base (C6H5)3CNa)
such as H2O, ROH, acetic acid as a cocatalyst)
Alkyl Amides: (NaNH2, LiN(C2H5)2)
Photoinitiation of Onium Salts: Ar2I+(PF6)–,
ArN2+(BF4)– Electron Transfer: Alkali metals
(Na/Naphthalene, K)
Electroinitiation: ClO4–
H T H T
H T H T Head-Tail (favored)
H T T H
Tail-Tail
Coupling
Disproportionation
Chain Transfer
Polycondensation
PolyAddition
Chain entanglement
• Length of chains
• Interaction between chains
Degree of polymerization
PE PVC PS
➢ Molecular weight
➢ Chain length
➢ Intermolecular forces (H-bonding)
➢ Branching
➢ Cross-links Tensile strength
Stress
Impact polymers
brittle (crazing) to ductile (yielding)
Polymer fibres
behavior in deformation and
fracture. Rubbery Polymers
Strain
▪ Chains are held together by covalent linkages hence cannot slip even on heating
▪ Sometimes upon heating new cross links may be formed resulting in more hardness
Dissolution of Polymer
Physical State
of Polymer
Crystalline
Semicrystalline Amorphous
Ordered
Glass
Transition
Tg
(Mpa)
Rubbery
Iso viscous Flow
Viscoelastic
Soft
flexible
Viscous Rubbery State Viscous
Rubbery Flow
Extendable
Leathery Liquid
solid
Temperature (K)
High Crystalline
Stiffness Amorphous
Modulus
Tg Moderate
Tg Stiffness
Tm No Useful
Stiffness
Temperature
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Properties of Polymers
❑ Thermal Properties
Amorphous Polymer Semi-Crystalline Polymer
Heated from low T region, volume expands Changes at Tg less drastic since changes are
at constant rate restricted to amorphous regions and
crystalline regions are mostly unaffected
▪ At Tg, rate of expansion changes abruptly. Between Tg and Tm semicrystalline polymer
▪ Physical behaviour changes from is composed of rigid crystallites in rubbery
hard/brittle/glassy solid to soft rubbery amorphous matrix
region
Further heating polymer changes from At Tm crystallites melt, leading to viscous
rubbery to viscous liquid state
X Tg (K)
–CH3 253
–Cl 354
–OH 358
Tm = 265 ̊C Tm = 135 ̊C
Tg = −70 °C Tg = 69 °C
Presence of phenyl group increases rigidity
Weight fraction, Wx
➢ Cryoscopy
➢ Chemical analysis of end groups 𝑁2
𝑀𝑣
𝑤 σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖
𝑀𝑛 = = = 𝑋𝑖 𝑀𝑖 𝑁1 𝑀𝑤
σ 𝑁𝑖 σ 𝑁𝑖
𝑀2
𝑋𝑖 =Mole fraction of polymer chains with molecular weight 𝑀𝑖
𝑀1 Molecular weight, Mx
Determined by Determined by
➢ Light scattering measurements ➢ Radial distribution of refractive
➢ Sediment-equilibrium methods index in sedimentation
equilibrium
σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖2 σ 𝑤𝑖 𝑀𝑖 σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖3
𝑀𝑤 = = 𝑀𝑧 =
σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖 σ 𝑤𝑖 σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖2
Intrinsic viscosity
(1+𝛼) 1Τ𝛼
σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖
𝑀𝑣 = 𝑀𝑤 > 𝑀𝑣 > 𝑀𝑛
σ 𝑁𝑖 𝑀𝑖 𝜂 = 𝐾𝑀𝛼
Weight fraction, Wx
➢ Generally, 0.5 < α < 0.9
𝑛2
➢ Value of α varies with polymer, solvent and 𝑀𝑣
temperature
𝑛1 𝑀𝑤
➢ In poor solvents size of polymer molecule
shrinks reducing the “drag” and hence
lower viscosity 𝑀2
𝑀1 Molecular weight, Mx
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Properties of Polymers
❑ Molecular Weight of Polymers
Degree of polymerization
𝑀𝑛 𝑀𝑤
𝐷𝑃𝑛 = 𝐷𝑃𝑤 =
𝑀𝑜 𝑀𝑜
weight percent
distribution
Cumulative
curve
Relative amount
𝑛2
➢ PDI = 1
of polymer
➢ 𝑀𝑛 = 𝑀𝑤 𝑀𝑤
➢ eg., Natural polymers, synthetic 𝑛1 𝑀𝑧
polymers made by anionic
𝑀1 𝑀2
polymerization
Molecular weight
Polymer 𝑀𝑛 𝑀𝑤 Weight in
Mixture
A 1.2 x 105 4.5 x 105 200
B 5.6 x 105 8.9 x 105 200
C 10 x 105 10 x 105 100
3) In a polymer, there are 100 molecules of molecular weight 100, 200 molecules of molecular weight
1000 and 300 molecules of molecular weight 10,000. Find 𝑀𝑛 , 𝑀𝑤 and PDI.
𝑀𝑛 = 5350; 𝑀𝑤 = 9408; 𝑃𝐷𝐼 = 1.76
4) The 𝑀𝑛 of polystyrene is 105 gm/mol. Find it 𝐷𝑃𝑛 .
𝐷𝑃𝑛 = 961
Nylon Rope
Water resistant
Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Modacrylic fibre
Polyester Fibre Fire fighter suit
➢ Polar groups
Polyacrylonitriles
Cellulose
Polybenzimidazole (PBI)
Polypropylene
Polycarbonate chair
PVC stools
PVC Kitchen Furniture
PMMA chair
(Plexiglass) Polypropylene furniture
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Applications of Polymers
❑ Crockery
Melamine formaldehyde
Polystyrene Crockery (melamine) crockery
Polypropylene
HDPE containers Microwave containers Polypropylene Crockery
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Applications of Polymers
❑ Mattress
ABS (casing), glass reinforced Alkyd Resins, PF, UF etc. Ethylene vinyl acetate,
epoxy resin (Motherboard) polyphenylene oxide,
poly amides etc.
Poly(α-cyanoacrylate)
based polymers Heart pumps Hip Joints
.
Silicone rubber, PE,
nylon, PET etc.
Tissue adhesives Artificial ligaments
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/Teflon)
coating for Automobiles
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Applications of Polymers
❑ Insulating material
1)
Purification of Dimethylterephthalate
2)
Epoxy
polymer Heat + H2O
Chains +
Succinic Anhydride
Natural Synthetic
▪ Gum, Glue, Starch, casein etc. ▪ Epoxy resins, Urea
▪ Low strength Formaldehyde, Phenol
▪ Cannot bond different materials formaldehyde, Silicones etc.
▪ Become hard on curing
▪ Better holding capacity for
heterogeneous materials
Search for
Discovers
Synthetic
Natural Rubber
Rubber
Branching
Density
180 – 250°C
Initiator
Pressure > 1000 atm
Preparation:
➢ At High pressure (> 1000 atm) and High Temperature (180 –250°C). Initiators like O2,
azo compounds, peroxides etc.
➢ Formation of branched polyethylene due to chain transfer reactions
➢ Branched structure leads to inefficient packing leading to low density
Properties:
➢ Low crystallinity (<40%)
➢ Low density (0.91–0.925 gm/cc)
▪ Weak intermolecular forces of attraction
▪ Branched structure Uses:
▪ Loose packing of polymers ➢ Films for packaging, carrybags
➢ Softening temperature 110–120°C ➢ Lamination of papers
➢ Electrical insulator ➢ Squeeze bottles
➢ Waxy ➢ Flexible pipes
➢ Soft weak ➢ Insulation on wires
➢ Packing sheets
➢ Tubes
➢ Water bottles
➢ Various utility articles
Preparation:
Properties:
➢ High crystallinity (~90%)
➢ High density (0.94–0.965 gm/cc)
▪ Weak intermolecular forces of attraction
▪ Linear structure
▪ Better packing of polymers
➢ Softening temperature 130–145°C Uses:
➢ Electrical insulator ➢ Crates, tubs, troughs
➢ Less Waxy ➢ Containers, water tanks, Drums
➢ Hard, stronger ➢ Medicine bottles
➢ Pipes
➢ Sheets
➢ Utility articles
HDPE
LLDPE LDPE
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Additives for Polymers
Compounding of Plastics:
▪ Mixing of different materials/chemicals like plasticizers, fillers, extenders, lubricants etc. to
thermoplastics or thermosetting resins to increase their useful properties like strength, toughness,
colour etc.
▪ Pure Polymeric material is not used to make finished articles
▪ It is mixed with compounding constituents to enhance its useful properties
Additives
Resins Accelerators
or Pigments Lubricants Stabilizers or
Plasticizers Fillers
Binders catalysts
Catalysts or Accelerators
➢ For thermosetting polymers, for making cross links
faster (curing)
➢ Benzoyl peroxide, transition metal oxides, Cu, Pb, Ag,
ZnO, acetyl Sulphuric acid, oxalic acid
Lubricants
Colour or Pigments
➢ Added to avoid the sticking of
➢ Impart color plastic materials to fabricating
➢ Resistance to UV equipment
➢ Organic dyes, carbon black, inorganic oxides ➢ Article is easily removed,
➢ No leaching eg., Iron oxide, Benzidine Yellow etc. glossy finish
Waxes, oils, stearates, oleates,
vaselines and soaps
Increases impact strength Cellulosic Fiber (rags,cotton, paper pulpwood etc.) to PF(bakelite)
Gypsum, saw dust, talc, asbestos, carbon black, mica, pumic powder, cork, husk, paper
pulp, wood flour, cotton fiber, china clay, metallic powders (Al, Cu, Pb) and metallic
oxide powders (ZnO, PbO)
Resins
▪ Increase plasticity and flexibility ▪ impart special properties
or ▪ reduce cost of finished product
Plasticizers Binders Fillers
▪ easily removal from
fabricating equipment ▪ increase thermal stability
▪ glossy finish
Lubricants Stabilizers
Additives
Colour Catalysts ▪ for making cross links
▪ Impart colour
faster
or or
Pigments Accelerators
Process
Stability Flame
Plastics = Retardants
Polymers
+
Additives Recycling
Fungicide
Copper
Biocide Scratch Contact
Resistance
• 2000
p-type n-type
Lewis Acid Lewis Base
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Conducting Polymers
❑ Intrinsically conducting polymers
Structural requirements
➢ Presence of conjugation (alternating σ and π bonds)
➢ Presence of aromatic rings
➢ Polymer should have Linear chains
➢ Such polymers have high crystallinity and planarity in structure
Polyacetylene
X= NH Polypyrole
Aromatic + Heteroatoms
X=S Polythiophene
Conjugated π + Aromatic
X=NH Polyaniline
Polyphenylene vinylene X=S Polyphenylene sulfide
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Conducting Polymers
❑ Intrinsically conducting polymers
➢ Doping
p-type or Oxidative n-type or Reductive
3/2 I2 Na
(CH)n (CH)n+ I3− (CH)n (CH)n− Na+
Polyacetylene Polyacetylene chain Polyacetylene Polyacetylene chain
with positive charge with negative charge
▪ I2 in CCl4, FeCl3, Br2, AsF5,
▪ Li, Na, naphthylamine, etc.
HBF4, HClO4 etc.
Protonic doping
Molecular
Wires
Applications
Electronics
Optical
Filters Sensors Photovoltaic
Cells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3m_NtQTnfc
Process is slow
➢ Enzymes either polymer linkages or from end to convert polymers into smaller
fragments
➢ Microorganisms consume these fragments and produce CO2, N2, CH4 etc.
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Biodegradable Polymers
❑ Biodegradable polymers
➢ Biodegradable polymers are defined as the materials whose chemical and
physical characteristics undergo deterioration and completely degrade
when exposed to microorganisms, aerobic and anaerobic processes.
➢ Biodegradable polymers degrade as a result of natural biological processes,
eliminating the need to create a disposal system which can cause harm to
our environment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yis-pw0gxfU
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Biodegradable Polymers
❑ Factors Responsible
1. Microorganisms
Naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae are responsible for
biodegradation of polymers. Very slow process
pseudomonas, bacillus, cereshia, protozoa, azetobactor, fungi
2. Environment
For the survival, action by the microorganisms and for biodegradation process to
function, suitable conditions like temperature, pH, moisture, oxygen, salts, pressure,
light, etc are important
3. Nature of Polymer
Polymer should contain bonds which can be hydrolysed, oxidised by the enzyme action.
So the atoms like N, O, S should be present in the polymeric chain.
Physical features
▪ Amorphous polymers >crystalline polymers
▪ Lower MW> Higher molecular weight
▪ Hydrophilic polymers> Hydrophobic polymers
Acaligenes
eutrophus
+
Glucose 3-hydroxy butyric acid 3-hydroxy valeric acid
Polymerization