polymers

Dr. Marwa
Mohammed

The first lecture

polymers

it is long chain molecules consisting of

large number of repeating units of
identical structure

EX:

Poly=many

polymer
Mer=unit
Monomer
it is the main substance that started the
reaction.

EX:

mono= one
monomer
Mer=unit
Notes
• Polymers have high molecular weight in
range (104 – 107).
• Polymers used in fibers – plastics –
rubber …….

Cotton, protein,
natural natural rubber, starch
and cellulose
Types of polymers
Poly ethylene, poly
propylene, poly ester ,
synthetic
nylon and poly
styrene
EX:

n :- degree of polymerization ( number of repeating

units)
As n increase, the molecular weight of polymer
increase
n=1 monomer
n=2 dimer
n = 3,4,5,……. polymer
 Difference between polymer,
oligomer and mononmer.

monomer oligomer polymer

n=1* ..… ,n = 10, 8, 7 * n= 104 - 107 *
Very small molecular * Small molecular * Large molecular *
weight weight weight
Viscous material or * Solid materials ( can *
liquid make softening by
.increase temperature
 The difference between polymer with high
M.Wt and compound with low M.Wt

they do not melt at a definite and

The physical and the mechanical
Molecular weights properties of macro-molecules
of high polymers depend on the method of their
ranges from 104 - preparation which is not the case
107 for low molecular weight
.compounds
sharp temperature, but firstly they
pass through a state of softening.
This is due to the fact that,
macromolecules usually consist of
molecules of different molecular
weights each of which will melt at
.its own specific temperature

Polymeric substances cannot be

boiled, since all of them decompose The solutions of high polymers are
before reaching the boiling characterized by very high viscosity even
temperature ( polymer can never be .at low concentration
.found in the gaseous state)
 Functionality • Molecules capable of polymerizing must be poly
functional molecules.

• Molecules with one EX:

functional group not give a
polymer.

• Molecules with two

functional groups capable of
combining together to give a
polymer.

• All unsaturated compounds

are polyfunctional.
 Regular and Irregular
Polymers
Regular Is a polymer chain which consist of a
polymers perfect long – range order of repeat
units.

EX: the reaction of vinyl monomers according to the following schemes.

In most polymerization, monomers combine according to

scheme I
 Irregular
polymers Any polymer that lacks such
order

Chain irregularity
reasons

A. Identical repeating units following each other in the chain in different positions ( scheme
III). Give 1,4 and 1,2 monomer addition:

B. Different degrees of branching

C. Random alternation of monomers of different chemical constitutions. This type of
irregularity is observed mostly in copolymers.