CHEMISTRY 1

Q2_Week 7
January 16-20, 2023
COMPETENCIES
•Describe the formation and structure
of polymers.
•Explain the properties of some
polymers in terms of their structure.
 POLYMERS
• Are large molecules made of many small units
joined to each other through organic reactions.
• Monomers – small unit of polymers.
• Copolymers – a polymer made from two or more
different monomers.
• Polymerization – a process of reacting monomer
molecules together in a chemical reaction to form
polymer chains or three-dimensional networks. It
is accomplished through condensation reactions.
 ADDITION POLYMERS
• Is a polymer formed by addition reactions between
monomers that contain a double bond. For example,
molecules of ethene can polymerize with each other to
form polyethene, commonly called polyethylene.
nCH2=CH2 (CH2 – CH2)n
catalyst

ethene polyethylene
• The letter n shows that the addition reaction can be
repeated multiple times to form a polymer n monomer
long. In fact, this reaction can be repeated hundreds
or thousand of times.
Forms of Polyethylene and Related
Polymers

catalyst

ethene polyethylene
 Polyethylene
• Is a lightweight, durable thermoplastic with variable
crystalline structure.
• It is used in applications ranging for films, tubes,
plastic parts, laminates, etc. in several markets
(packaging, automotive, electrical, etc.)
• It is made from the polymerization of ethylene (or
ethene) monomer.
• Chemical formula is (C2H4)n
 Molecular Structure of Polyethylene

Catalysts

Monomer Structure of PE (C2H4)n

C2H4

• Ziegler-Natta and Metallocene catalysts are used to

carry out polymerization of polyethylene.
 Common Types of Polyethylene (PE)
• Branched Versions
1. Low-density PE (LDPE)
2. Linear low-density PE (LLDPE)

• Linear Versions
1. High-density PE (HDPE)
2. Ultra-high-molecular-weight PE (UHMWPE)
 Properties of HDPE
• Excellent resistant to most solvent
• Very good resistance to alcohols, dilute acids and
alkalis.
• Moderate resistance to oils and greases.
• Excellent electrical insulating properties.
• Higher tensile strength
• Good low temperature resistant
• FDA compliant.
 Disadvantage of HDPE
• Susceptible to stress cracking
• High mold shrinkage
• Poor UV-and low heat resistance
• High-frequency welding and joining impossible
 Applications of HDPE
• Packaging applications –
crates, trays, bottles for
milk and fruit juices,
caps for food packaging,
jerry cans, etc.
• Consumer Goods –
garbage container,
housewares, toys, etc.
• Fibers and Textiles –
ropes, nets, fishing and
sport nets, etc.
 Properties of LDPE
• Good resistance to alcohols, dilute alkalis and acids
• Temperature resistance up to 800 continuously and
950 for shorter times.
• High impact strength at low temperature, good
weatherability.
• Excellent electrical insulating properties
• Transparent in thin film form
• FDA compliant.
 Disadvantage of LDPE
• Susceptible to stress cracking
• Poor UV resistance
• Highly flammable
• High frequency welding and joining impossible
 Applications of LDPE
• Packaging – squeeze
bottles, caps and
closures, tamper evident,
liners, trash bags, films
for food packaging, etc.
• Pipes and Fittings –
water pipes and hoses for
the pipes and fittings
industry.
 Properties of LLDPE
• Very flexible with high impact strength
• Translucent and natural milky color
• Excellent for mild and strong buffers, good chemical
resistance
• Good water vapor and alcohol barrier properties
• Good stress crack and impact resistance
 Applications of LLDPE
• Suitable for a variety of
film application such as
general-purpose film,
stretch film, garment
packaging, agricultural
film, etc.
 Properties of UHMWPE
• It has excellent mechanical properties such as high
abrasion resistance, impact strength and low
coefficient of friction.
• The material is almost totally inert, therefore it is
used in the most corrosive or aggressive environment
at moderate temperature.
• It is suitable for high wear applications such as
tubes liners, silos, containers and other equipment.
Applications of UHMWPE
 Condensation Polymers
• A polymer formed by condensation reaction.
• Monomers of condensation polymers must contain
two functional groups. This allows each monomer to
link with two other monomers by condensation
reactions.
• Condensation polymers are usually copolymers with
two monomers in an alternating order.
 Polyamides
• A carboxylic acid with two carboxyl groups, adipic
acid, and an amine with two amine groups,
hexanediamine, react with each other to form water.

hexanediamine + adipic acid → nylon 66 + water

The product is a polyamide and contains the adipic

acid monomer and the hexanediamine monomer. This
copolymer in known as nylon 66 is one of the most
widely used of all synthetic polymers.
 Uses of Polyamides
• It is common in textiles like clothing and carpets.
• It also often features in the production of items that
require both strength and flexibility, including
fishing line, electrical connectors, gears, guitar picks
and strings and medical implants.
• Polyamide cable protection systems also have a
range of industry applications beyond those that
require cable protection. Some industrial uses
include the following: Automotive, Food and
Beverage, Robotics.
 Polyesters
• Formed from dialcohols and dicarboxylic acids,
which undergo a condensation reaction to form
esters group, linking the alcohol end of a monomer
to the acid end of a monomer.
Uses of Polyesters
 References:
• https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-
guide/polyethylene-plastic
• http://schwartz.eng.auburn.edu/polyester/uses.htm
l
• https://yesstraws.com/blogs/news/types-of-plastic-
plastic-numbers-guide
• https://aerosusa.com/applications-properties-and-
uses-of-polyamide/