POLYMERS

• POLYMERS, any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of

very large molecules, called macromolecules, that are multiples of simpler
chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in
living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids.
Moreover, they constitute the basis of such minerals as diamond, quartz,
and feldspar and such man-made materials as concrete, glass, paper, plastics,
and rubbers.

• POLYMERS are not like an ordinary compound. They involve complex

chemical reactions to form. The words polymer comes from the Greek prefix
poly- “Many” and mers- “Parts”, thus many parts. Though, the word polymer
is equated to the word macromolecules (giant molecules). It is after a
German Physicist, Hermann Staudinger, who clearly prove that such giant
molecules exist and called it macromolecules (Chang, 2008).
• The word polymer designates an unspecified number of monomer units.
When the number of monomers is very large, the compound is sometimes
called a high polymer. Polymers are not restricted to monomers of the same
chemical composition or molecular weight and structure. Some natural
polymers are composed of one kind of monomer. Most natural and synthetic
polymers, however, are made up of two or more different types of
monomers; such polymers are known as copolymers.
 MONOMER, MER AND POLYMER
The process on which the formation of polymers undergoes is called
polymerization, which involves the chemical combinations of many small
chemical units known as monomers “single parts” (Winslow, 1979), a mer
“repeating units” and a polymer “the macromolecule”. The diagram below
shows the molecular structure of polyethylene, an example of a polymer

(POLYMERS)

POLYETHYLENE
• Characteristics of Polymers
Every polymer has very distinct characteristics, but most polymers have the
following attributes. First, polymers can be very resistant to chemicals. Many
chemicals we are using today such as muriatic acid, chlorine and many more are so
strong that it even damages our skin. The characteristics of plastics provide safe,
nonbreakable packages for aggressive solvent. Second, polymers can be both
thermal and electrical insulators. A walk through your house will reinforce this
concept, as you consider all the appliances, cords, electrical outlets and wiring that
are made or covered with polymeric materials. Polymers (e.g. kitchenware made of
Teflon) can resist extreme heat. The thermal underwear that many skiers wear is
made of polypropylene and the fiberfill in winter jackets is acrylic and polyester.
Third, generally, polymers are very light in weight with significant degrees of
strength. Kevlar is one example of this which is really strong yet light in weight.
Fourth, polymers can be processed in various ways. Injection Molding - plastic is
melted in a heating chamber and then forced by a plunger into cold molds to set;
and
• Extrusions - melted polymer is extruded through a die in continuous form
to be cut into lengths or coiled. Fifth, polymers are materials with a
seemingly limitless range of characteristics and colors, because polymers
can mimic cotton, silk, wool fibers, porcelain, marble, aluminum and zinc.
Lastly, Polymers can be used to make items that have no alternatives
from other materials. Polymers are used in many medical purposes such
as Dacron for artificial artery of the heart and blood bag used in blood
transfusion. These were according to American Chemistry Council (2005)
and Smith (2005).
Polymers Based Type of Monomer involved in the Structure:
Homopolymer and Copolymer
• Polymers Based on Structure: Linear, Branched, Cross-Link and
Network
There are two types of Monomer involved in the Structure of
Polymers. First, homopolymer- same monomer is repeated throughout
the chain of polymer; and copolymer- this is also known as
heteropolymer as they are composed of two or more different kinds of
monomers.
HOMOPOLYMERS

Homopolymers a polymer made from many copies of a single

repeating unit. Homopolymers can be classified as linear, branched,
cross linked and network polymers.
Linear Polymer
is a long continuous chain of carbon–carbon bonds with the
remaining two valence bonds attached primarily to hydrogen or
another relatively small hydrocarbon moiety.
Branched Polymer
 defined as having secondary polymer chains linked to a primary backbone,
resulting in a variety of polymer architectures such as star, H-shaped, pom-pom,
and comb-shaped polymers.
Cross-linked Polymer
The term "cross-link" refers to a bond or series of linkages
between two polymer chains. The polymers might be either
manufactured or natural, and the linkages between them can take the
form of covalent or ionic bonds.
Network Polymer
A network polymer consists two or more networks that are
covalently connected to one another yet are at least partially interlaced
on a polymer scale. Unless chemical bonds are disrupted, the network
cannot be separated.
Copolymers
To clarify, copolymers are heteropolymers since they are made up of two
or more different types of monomers, as stated by Raymond Chang and
Golds by (2016). Both polyamides and polyesters are two of its most
common varieties.
Polyamides are the condensation of carboxylic acid and amine monomers
while polyesters are the condensation of carboxylic and monomers.
• Copolymer can be further classified as alternating copolymer, block
copolymer, graft copolymer and random copolymers, gradient,
periodic and aperiodic.
• Random Copolymer -the monomers are arranged in any order such as
AABAAABBBBAB.

• Block Copolymers - are macromolecules composed of sequences, or

blocks, of chemically distinct repeat units It can be represented as
AAAAAAABBBBBBB.
• Alternating Copolymer - the two monomers are arranged in an
alternative way and can be represented as ABABABABAB.
• Graft Copolymer - meaning it is a branched copolymer with one or
more side chains of a homopolymer attached to the backbone of the
main chain.