Designing Useful Polymers

LDPE and HDPE

LDPE
It is non-polar polymer chains interact with each
other by van der Waals’ forces. As the chains are
heavily branched, not straight chains, these
intermolecular forces are relatively weak for such
large molecules. The random branching makes it
impossible for the polymer chains to pack neatly
together and accounts for its low density and low
melting temperature
HDPE
Its unbranched polymer chains could pack
closely together so it has higher boiling
point and is used in making pipes and
container that can withstand sterilizing
temperature.
Neoprene and Isoprene
• Neoprene was made from the
polymerisation of the monomer 2-
chloro-1,3-butadiene in an addition
reaction:

The monomer of natural rubber is 2-

methyl-1,3-butadiene (Isoprene),which
is very similar to the monomer for
neoprene. The intermolecular forces
between natural rubber polymers are
van der Waals’ forces.
A process called vulcanization was invented to make rubber tyres
more resilient and hardwearing. This inks rubber polymer chains by
covalent bonds across ‘sulfur bridges’
Non-solvent-based adhesives
• Traditional adhesives (glues) are polymers
dissolve in use an organic solvent (e.g ester, ethyl
ethanoate due to their low toxicity ang high
volatility, so fleamable) to stick two surfaces
together. After applying the adhesive, the solvent
evaporates off and the solid polymer is left
behind and acts as the glue. Due to the
flammability a non-solvent adhesive is necessary.
• The main component of non-solvent-based adhesives is often a
polymer that contains silicon bonded to oxygen.

• They set (or cure) by reacting with the moisture present in air. The
water hydrolyses the silicon–oxygen parts of the polymer chain, which
form cross-linkages between each other. This effectively bonds the
polymer chains to each other with strong covalent bonds. The
crosslinking siloxane grouping is Si O Si , which is the equivalent of
an ether functional group in carbon chemistry
The polymers are called ‘silyl modified polymers’ (SMPs) and are non-
toxic and environmentally friendly, and they set quickly. They perform
well with most materials under a wide range of conditions

Polymers that form extensive networks of covalent cross-links are

called thermosets. They are very strong and cannot be melted and
remoulded. Epoxy resins are common examples of these
macromolecules formed by condensation polymerisation
 Polymer Disposal
There are two developments to help solve the disposal problem:
• Biodegradable plastics and
• Photodegradable plastics.

Biodegradable plastics
These are plastics, when buried for many years, eventually become brittle and break
down into smaller pieces that can be decomposed naturally by microorganisms in soil.
For examples; PLA , polyamide, polyesthers are broken gown by hydrolysis at favourable
PH.
Polyalkenes are not bio-degradable.
Photodegradable plastics
Polymer chains that have carbonyl groups (C O) at intervals down their
length. These carbonyl groups absorb energy from the ultraviolet
region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This causes the bonds in the
region of the carbonyl group to weaken and break down
Conducting polymers
Polymers that can conduct electricity are formed from the hydrocarbon
called ethyne (also still know by its old name, acetylene). Its molecular
formula is C2H2 and its displayed formula is: