Basic Concept of

Polymer

Md. Sakib-Uz-Zaman
What is polymer?

Polymers are very large molecules made when hundreds

of monomers join together to form long chains.
Example: Polyethelene
 What is monomer?

 The small individual repeating units/molecules are

known as monomers.
 Imagine that a monomer can be represented by the
letter A. Then a polymer made of that monomer
would have the structure:

-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-
 What is polymerization?

• The process by which the monomer molecules are

linked to form a big polymer molecule is called
‘polymerization’.
What is repeating unit?

A repeat unit or repeating unit is a part of a polymer whose

repetition would produce the complete polymer chain by
linking the repeat units together successively along the
chain, like the beads of a necklace.
What is degree of polymerization?

The degree of polymerization, or DP, is the number

of monomeric units in
a macromolecule or polymer or oligomer molecule.
Describe the classification of polymers.

1. By Origin
2. By Monomer
3. By Thermal Response
4. By Mode Of Formation
5. By Structure
6. By Application & Physical Properties
7. By Tacticity
1. By Origin:
a) Natural Polymers:
 Polymers which are isolated from natural materials
are called as natural polymers.
 E.g. Silk, Wool, Cellulose, Starch, Proteins etc.

b) Semisynthetic Polymers:
 The polymers obtained by simple chemical treatment
of natural polymers to improve their physical
properties like lustrous nature, tensile strength are
called semisynthetic polymers.
 E.g. Cellulose acetate, Cellulose nitrate.
c) Synthetic Polymers:
 Polymers synthesized in laboratory from low
molecular weight compounds, are called as,
synthetic polymers.
 E.g. Nylon, Nylon, PVC, Bakelite, Teflon etc.
2. By Monomer:
a) Homo Polymers:
 A polymer consist of identical monomers is called
homo polymer.
 E.g. Polyethylene, PVC, Polypropylene, Nylon 6

b) Co Polymers:
 A polymer consist of monomers of different
chemical structure are called copolymers.
 E.g. Nylon 6,6
3. By Thermal Response:
a) Thermoplastic Polymers:
 They are easily moulded in desired shapes by heating and
subsequent cooling at room temperature.
 They are soft in hot and hard on cooling.
 They my be linear or branched chain polymers.
 E.g. PE, PVC, PS, PP.

b) Thermosetting Polymers:
 This polymer is hard and infusible on heating.
 These are not soft on heating under pressure and they are not
remolded.
 These are cross linked polymers and are not reused.
 E.g. Bakelite
4. By Mode of Formation:
a) Addition Polymers:
 The polymers formed by the addition of monomers
repeatedly without removal of by products are called
addition polymers.
 These polymers contains all the atoms of monomers
hence their molecular weight are integral multiple of
monomer unit.
 E.g. Teflon, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, PVC.
b) Condensation Polymers:

 They are formed by the combination of two monomers

by removal of small molecules like H2O, Alcohol or
NH3. Their molecular mass is not the integral multiple
of monomer units.
 They have ester and amide linkage in their
molecules.
 E.g. Polyamides, Polyesters.
5. By Structure:
a) Linear Polymers:
 In these polymers monomers are linked with each
other and form a long straight chain.
 E.g. HDPE, Nylons.

b) Branched Polymers:
 They have a straight long chain with different side
chains.
 E.g. LDPE, LLDPE.

c) Cross-linked Polymer:
 In these monomeric units are linked together to
constitute a 3D network.
 E.g. Bakelite, Melamine, Vulcanized rubber.
6. By Applications & Physical Properties:
a) Fibers:
 If polymer is drawn into long filament like material
whose length is at least 100 times it’s diameter, are said
to be converted into fiber.
 E.g. Nylon, Terylene.

b) Elastomers:
 They are solids with rubber like elastic properties.
 Here the polymeric chains are held together by the
weakest intermolecular forces so they are highly
amorphous in nature.
 E.g. Natural rubber, Vulcanised rubber.
c) Plastics:
 Polymer is shaped into hard and tough utility articles by
application of heat and pressure, is known as plastics.
 Here the intermolecular force between polymeric
chains are intermediate between elastomers and fibers.
 They are partially crystalline.
 E.g. Polystyrene, PVC, PMMA.

d) Resins:
 Low molecular weight.
 Polymers which are used as adhesives, sealants etc., in a
liquid form are described as liquid resins.
 E.g. Epoxy adhesives and polysulphides sealants.
7. By Tacticity:
a) Isotactic Polymers:
 The head to tail configuration in which the functional
groups are all deposited on the same side of the chain,
is called isotactic polymers.

b) Synditactic polymers:
 If the deposition of side groups is in alternating fashion,
it is called synditactic polymers.

c) Atactic polymers:
 If the deposition of side groups are at random around
the main, it is called atactic polymers.
Describe the Types of Co-Polymer.
1. Block Copolymers:
 When more than one homo polymer units are linked
together via covalent bonds, the resulting single-chain
macromolecule is called a block copolymer.

2. Statistical Copolymer:
 Statistical copolymers are the polymers in
which two or more monomers are arranged in a
sequence that follows some statistical rule.
3. Alternating Copolymers:
 Alternating copolymers contain a single main chain
with alternating monomers.

4. Periodic Copolymers:
 These polymers feature a repeating sequence in
which the monomers are arranged in a single chain.

5. Gradient and Stereoblock Copolymers:

 The single-chain copolymers in which the composition
of monomers gradually changes along the main chain
are called gradient copolymers.