Polymers

Alex Stamm
and
Noah Brubaker
June 29th, 2011
Hydrocarbons
ex: Alkanes
 1 – Meth-
 2 – Eth-
 3 – Prop-
 4 – But-
 5 – Pent-
 6 – Hex-
 7 – Hept-
 8 – Oct-
 9 – Non-
 10 – Dec-
 11 – Undec-
 12 – Dodec-
 Hydrocarbons
at Room Temperature
 Gas  Liquid  Waxy  Plastic
 Methane 20 to 40 40 or more
 Ethane 5 to 19 Carbons Carbons
 Propane Carbons
 Butane
 Melting Point
 As the length of hydrocarbons get longer, the Melting Point
grows Higher. Why?

Melting and Boiling Temperatures of Alkanes

600

500

400

300 Boiling Point (˚C)

Tempurature (˚C)

200 Melting Point(˚C)

100

-100

-200

-300
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Number of Carbons
What other material properties
change?
 Viscosity

 Hardness

 Toughness

 Flammability
Bonding

 Covalent

 Ionic (NaCl)

 Polar (H2O)

 Van der Waals

Rubber Tree

 Sap:
 Sticky
 Viscous
 Gooey

 Goodyear
 Experiment
 Luck
 Profit ($0)
Vulcanization
Time for an Activity!
 Please find a partner.

 Follow me into the hall.

Molecular Structure
of Polymers
 Linear
 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), PVC, Nylon, Cotton
 Branched
 Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE)
 Cross-linked
 Rubber
 Network
 Kevlar, Epoxy
Chain Length: 1000 - 2000

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Chain Length: 10,000 – 100,000

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Chain Length: 2-6 million

Ultra-high-molecular-weight
polyethylene (UHMWPE)
Joint
Replacement

Helmet

Gears
 Endless Possibilities

 New
Functional
Groups

 Different
Polymer
Backbones
Functional Groups
 Chain Length: 4,000 – 5,000

PVC – (polyvinyl chloride)

More Polar  Stronger Bonding

Chain Length: 4,000 – 8,000

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)

“Polyester”

Ester
Nylon
 Cotton

Long Strands of Cellulose

+ Hydrogen Bonds

Cellulose is the most common organic material on earth!

It is also a primary constituent of wood and paper.
Polymers in Starch
Biology
DNA

Sugar Proteins
 Kevlar

Strong Network of Covalent Bonds

And Polar Hydrogen Bonds
Time for another Activity!
 How can we test which material is
stronger?
 Endless Possibilities

 New
Functional
Groups

 Different
Polymer
Backbones
Inorganic Polymers
 Silicon (Si)
Inorganic Polymers
 Silicon
(Si)
 Germanium (Ge)
Inorganic Polymers
 Silicon
(Si)
 Germanium (Ge)
 Boron-Nitrogen (B – N)
Inorganic Polymers
 Silicon(Si)
 Germanium (Ge)
 Boron-Nitrogen (B – N)
 Aluminum – Nitrogen (Al – N)
…
…
 On and on
Conclusions:
 Polymers make up all sorts of materials that are all
around us!
 They can have a huge range or material properties
based on their:
 Functional Groups
 Structure
 Backbone
 Keep thinking about how chemical interactions on
the nano-scale correspond to material properties
on the macro-scale
• Polyethylene terephthalate, PET – most plastic bottles for fizzy
Common examples of objects made using each plastic include:

drinks, ovenproof food trays and roasting bags, audio and

videotape. 
• High density polyethylene, HDPE – plastic bottles for milk, fruit
juices, household cleaners and chemicals. Motor oil containers,
some carrier bags and most aerosol caps.
• Polyvinyl chloride, PVC – plastic bottles for mineral water, fruit
squash, cooking oil and shampoo. Sandwich and cake packs, food
packaging trays, DIY blister packs, baby care product containers,
cling film, ring- binder covers, records and watch straps.
• Low density polyethylene, LDPE – ‘Jif’ lemon juice container. Some
squeezy containers for sauces, cosmetics and plastic films (shrink
wrap), sacks, freezer bags, carrier bags that are not crinkly,
disposable pipettes, some aerosol caps, some plant pots and ink-
tubes in ball-point pens. 
Common examples of objects made using each plastic include:

• Polypropylene, PP – plastic straws, containers for soft

cheeses and fats, some margarine tubs, microwaveable
food tubs and trays, film bags for crisps, biscuits and
snacks, ketchup bottles and bottle caps. 
• Polystyrene, PS – yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, clear
egg boxes, food packaging trays, plastic cutlery and
cups, clear plastic glasses, ball-point pen cases,
cassette boxes and plastic coat-hangers. 
• Expanded polystyrene, EPS – fast food packaging, meat
packaging trays and egg boxes. (No code necessary.)
Links
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_recycling
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkane
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_alkanes
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycondensation
 http://www.chemistryland.com/ElementarySchool/BuildingBlocks/Buildi
ngOrganic.htm
 http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Material
s/Structure/polymer.htm
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c/materials/molecst
ructpropertiesrev3.shtml
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_der_Waals_force
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcanization
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/26766586/08-Polymers-Why-is-Rubber-Elas
tic
 http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Material
s/Structure/polymer.htm