Polymers And Their

Properties
Introduction
Basic Topics:
Types of polymers
Classification of Polymers
Characteristics of Polymers
Properties of Polymers
Strength of Polymers
 INTRODUCTION

POLYMERS
are long chain giant organic molecules
assembled from many smaller molecules
called MONOMERS.
Consist of many repeating MONOMER
units in long chains .
Is Analogous to a necklace made from
many small beads(MONOMERS)
 Another common name for many
synthetic polymers is plastic which
comes from the Greek word PLASTIKOS
Suitable for molding or shaping.
 BASIC TOPICS
Types of Polymers.
Classification of Polymers.
Characteristics of Polymers.
Properties of Polymers.
Strength of Polymers.
 TYPES OF POLYMERS
POLYTHENE
-The First Commercially produced
Polymer
-The Simplest and Most Common.
-Its Systematic name is poly(ethene)
meaning it is a polymer made from the
monomer, ethene. (ETHENE is a small
molecule containing two carbon atoms
linked by double bond andd four
hydrogen atoms, two bonded each
POLYTHENE
POLY(PROPENE)
-Other Polymers can be made in this way.
-Is very similar to Poly(Ethene).
-Is made from propene which has three
carbon atoms, two of which are joined by
a double bond.
POLY(PROPENE)
POLY(PROPENE)
AMIDE LINKAGES
-One of the most common molecules in
biochemistry.
-Is a type of polymer called Protein.
-Is made from monomers known as
amino acids and they are joined by an
amide linkage.
NYLONS
-Are made using two types of monomer which
are Dicarboxylic acids and Diamines.
-The first nylon synthesised used one monomer
with a chain of four carbons with a carboxylic
acid group on each end and another monomer
with six carbon chain.
-Nylons are mainly used as fibres for clothing
and also other hard parts in light engineering.
POLYURETHANE
-Is very similar to nylons, but are formed
by reacting alcohols with isocyanates and
have an amide linkage with an additional
oxygen atom in the chain.
-This polymer is SOFTER and MORE
ELASTIC than NYLONS and are used as a
substitute for rubber and in elastic and
Lycra.
POLYESTERS
The final types of polymer we will deal in
this report are the polyesters. The ester
linkage is a carboxylic acid group where
the hydrogen has been replaced by the
carbon of another organic group.
Polyesters are widely used as fibres for
clothes and also for many drink bottles.
They are also used to make thin films for
applications such as video tapes.
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF
POLYMERS
-HOMOPOLYMERS consists of a chain with
identical bonding linkages to each monomer
unit. This usually implies that the polymer is
made from all identical monomer molecules.
These may be represented as : -[A-A-A-A-A-A]-
COPOLYMERS-Consist of chains with two or
more linkages usually implying two or more
differnet types of monomers units.
These may be represented as : -[A-B-A-B-A-B]-
 Polymers are further classified by the reaction
mode of polymerization, these include:
ADDITION POLYMERS The monomer
molecules bond to each other without the
loss of any other atoms. Alkene
monomers are the biggest groups of
polymers in this class.
CONDENSATION POLYMERS Usually
two different monomer combine with the
loss of a small molecule, usually water.
Polyesters and polyamides (Nylon) are in
this class of polymers. Polyurethane Foam
in graphic.
Classification based upon the
physical property related to
heating:
THERMOPLASTICS Plastics that
soften when heated and become firm
again when cooled.
This is the more popular type of plastic because
the heating and cooling may be repeated.
 THERMOSETS Plastics that SOFTEN
when heated and can be modeled, but
harden permanently.
They will decompose when reheated.
An example is Bakelite, which is used in toasters,
handles for pots and pans, dishes, electrical
outlet and billiard balls.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
POLYMERS
Low Density.
Low Coefficient of Friction.
Good Corrosion Resistance.
Good Mould Ability.
Excellent Surface Finish Can Be Obtained.
Can be Produced With Close Dimensional
Tolerances.
Economical.
Poor Tensile Strength.
Low Mechanical Properties.
Poor Temperature Resistance.
Can be produced transparent or in different
colours.
 PROPERTIES of POLYMERS
The physical properties of a polymer, such
as its strength and flexibility depend on:
Chain Length in general, the longer the
chains the stronger the polymer;
Side groups Polar side groups give
stronger attraction between polymer
chains, making the polymer stronger;
 Branching Straight, un branched chains
can pack together more closely than
highly branched chains, giving polymers
that are more crystalline and therefore
stronger.
Cross-Linking If polymer chains are
linked together extensively by covalent
bonds, the polymer is harder and more
difficult to melt.
 Strength of Polymers
In general, the longer the polymer chain,
The stronger the polymer, There are two
reasons for this:
Longer chains are more tangled.
There are more intermolecular forces
between the chains because there are
more points of contact. These forces,
however, are quite weak for polythene.