Polymers – the big 6 required for the HSC

 Addition polymerisation results in no other product other

than the addition polymer and requires only one monomer.

 Condensation polymerisation requires two monomers and

also produces water.

 Both require a radical initiator to start the reaction.

 Chemical or thermal cracking is used to create monomers.

 Natural polymers include: DNA, RNA, wool, fibres and

starch.
Monomer Polymer Common names Systematic names Properties Uses

Ethylene Ethene Flexible LDPE:

Polyethylene Polyethene Hydrophobic Plastic
Soft bags
Thermoplastic Water
Inert bottles

HDPE:
Buckets
Cutting
boards

Vinyl Chloride Chloroethene Thermoplastic Piping

Polyvinylchloride Polychloroethene Very hard Gutters
Rigid Credit
Brittle cards
Flame Raincoats
retardant Electrical
Resistant to insulation
chemical
corrosion
Styrene Ethylbenzene Higher Plastic
polystyrene Polyethylbenezene softening wine
point of 94 glasses
degrees Flotation
Stiff devices
Brittle Shock
Transparent absorbent
Can be packaging
expanded to Coffee
form cups
styrofoam

Tetraflouroethylene Tetraflouroethene Hard Non-stick

Polytetraflouroethylene Polytetraflouroethene Rigid coating for
High melting pans
point Anti
High corrosion
chemical container,
resistance pipe and
Low medical
coefficient of equipment
friction coatings

Ethylene glycol and Ethane-1,2-diol and Thermoplastic Fabric for

terephthalic acid benzene-1,4- High strength clothes,
dicarboxylic acid Stiff carpets,
Semi-rigid to furniture
Polyethylene
rigid and
terephthalate Poly(ethyl benezene- Resistant to blankets
1,4-dicarboxylic impact
acid) Lightweight Recyclable
drink
bottles and
food
packaging.
1,6-diaminohexane and Hexane-1,6-diaamine Thermoplastic Seat belts
adipic acid and hexanoic Acid High melting Rope
point Fishing
Strong line
Nylon 6,6 Poly(imino(1,6-
dixohexamethylene) High tensile Mechanical
iminohexamethylene) strength parts.
elastic