Part III: POLYMERS

Rhona C. Adajar
POLYMERS
Polymers are materials made of long, repeating chains
of molecules. The materials have unique properties,
depending on the type of molecules being bonded and
how they are bonded.

Polymers may be naturally found in plants and animals

(natural polymers) or may be man-made (synthetic
polymers).

Different polymers have a number of unique physical and

chemical properties due to which they find usage in
everyday life.
POLYMERS
Polymers are large molecules made by bonding
(chemically linking) a series of building blocks. The
word polymer comes from the Greek words for “many
parts.”

Each of those parts is scientists call a monomer

(which in Greek means “one part”). Think of a polymer
as a chain, with each of its links a monomer. Those
monomers can be simple — just an atom or two or
three — or they might be complicated ring-shaped
structures containing a dozen or more atoms.
Classification of Polymers based on the Source of Origin

Natural Polymers:
Natural polymers are defined as materials that widely occur
in nature or are extracted from plants or animals. Natural
polymers are essential to daily life as our human forms are
based on them.
For example proteins, starch, cellulose, and rubber. To add up,
we also have biodegradable polymers which are called
biopolymers.
Classification of Polymers based on the Source of Origin

Semi-synthetic Polymers:
They are derived from naturally
occurring polymers and
undergo further chemical
modification. For example,
cellulose nitrate, cellulose
acetate.
Example: Vulcanized rubber,
Gun cotton
Classification of Polymers based on the Source of Origin

Synthetic Polymers:
These are man-made polymers. Synthetic polymers are
sometimes referred as “plastics”, of which the well-known
ones are nylon and polyethylene.

The polymers which are formed by linking monomer units,

without the any change of material, are known to as
addition polymers or also called as chain-growth polymers.
All these are said to be synthetic polymers.
Classification of Polymers based on the Source of Origin

Some synthetic polymers which we use in our

everyday life include nylons used in fabrics and
textiles, Teflon used in non-stick pans, polyvinyl
chloride used in pipes.
The PET bottles we use are commonly made up of
synthetic polymer called as polyethylene
terephthalate. The covers and plastic kits comprises
synthetic polymers such as polythene, and the tyres of
vehicles are manufactured from the Buna rubbers. But
on the other side, there also arises environmental
issues by the use of these synthetic polymers such as
the bio plastics and those made from petroleum as
they are said to be non-biodegradable.
Classification of Polymers based on the Source of Origin
Types Of Synthetic Polymers with Examples

Nylon-
● Nylon belongs to the synthetic polymers family and is also known as polyamides. It was produced on
February 28 in the year 1935 by person naming Wallace Carothers at the DuPont’s research facility.
Nylon is widely used polymers. The backbone of it called as amide causes it to become hydrophilic than
other polymers. Nylon gets engaged in hydrogen bonding with water, not like the pure hydrocarbon
polymers which make most of the plastics

v
Types Of Synthetic Polymers with Examples-

Polyvinyl Chloride –
● Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC is third-most majorly produced plastics coming after polypropylene and
polyethylene. This PVC is used for construction purposes as it is known to be stronger and cheaper than
other alternatives like copper or iron. PVC is also used in the clothing, electrical cable insulation
including many other applications replacing rubber.
Types Of Synthetic Polymers with Examples-

Low-Density Polyethylene–
● The Low-Density Polyethylene polymers are the most common kind of synthetic polymers, which
are widely used in households. LDPE is a kind of thermoplastic which is prepared from the
monomer called ethylene.
Types Of Synthetic Polymers with Examples-

Polypropylene–
● Polypropylene also called as polypropene is a kind of thermoplastic synthetic polymer which is
used in variety of applications such as packaging, labelling, stationery, textiles, plastics and in
reusable containers, laboratory equipments etc.
Some Common Polymer
Some Common Polymer
Some Common Polymer
Classification of Polymers based on the Structure of the Monomer Chain

Linear Polymers
The structure of polymers containing long and straight chains fall into this category. PVC, i.e. poly-
vinyl chloride is largely used for making pipes and electric cables is an example of a linear polymer.
Classification of Polymers based on the Structure of the Monomer Chain

Branched-chain Polymers
When linear chains of a polymer form branches, then, such polymers are categorized as branched
chain polymers. For example, Low-density polythene.
Classification of Polymers based on the Structure of the Monomer Chain

Cross-linked Polymers
They are composed of bifunctional and trifunctional monomers. They have a stronger covalent bond in
comparison to other linear polymers. Bakelite and melamine are examples in this category.
Classification of Polymers based on the Structure of the Monomer Chain

Network Polymers
Network polymers are highly crosslinked materials in which some of the atom valencies are satisfied by
bonds that result in a three-dimensional (3D) structure
Properties of Polymers
Physical Properties
● As chain length and cross-linking increases the tensile strength of the polymer increases.
● Polymers do not melt, they change state from crystalline to semi-crystalline.

Chemical Properties
● Compared to conventional molecules with different side molecules, the polymer is enabled with hydrogen
bonding and ionic bonding resulting in better cross-linking strength.
● Dipole-dipole bonding side chains enable the polymer for high flexibility.
● Polymers with Van der Waals forces linking chains are known to be weak, but give the polymer a low melting
point.

Optical Properties
● Due to their ability to change their refractive index with temperature for applications in spectroscopy and
analytical applications.
Classification based on Molecular Forces
Classification Based on Polymerization
Addition Polymerization
This is also called as chain growth polymerization. In this, small
monomer units joined to form a giant polymer. Addition
polymerization is the process of repeated addition of monomers that
possess double or triple bonds to form polymers. For example,
Polymerization of ethane in the presence of Peroxides

Condensation Polymerization
In this type small molecules like H2O, CO, NH3 are eliminated during
polymerization (step growth polymerization). Generally, organic
compounds containing bifunctional groups such as idols, -dials,
diamines, dicarboxylic acids undergo this type of polymerization
reaction. For example, Preparation of nylon -6, 6.
Comparison
Classification Based on Monomers

Classification Based on Monomers

● Homomer: In this type, a single type of monomer unit is present.
For example, Polyethene
● Heteropolymer or co-polymer: It consists of different type of
monomer units. For example, nylon -6, 6

Copolymers

A copolymer is a polymer derived from more than one species of

monomer. The polymerization of monomers into copolymers is called
copolymerization. Copolymers obtained by copolymerization of two
monomer species are sometimes called bipolymers.
Material defects, on the other hand, refer to problems
inherent to the polymer compound itself. These may
include improper choice of polymer or grade of polymer,
inadequate fillers or stabilizers, or excessive regrind.
Manufacturing defects include both material processing
errors and part or structural fabrication errors.

Defects on
Polymers
Mi xi xiMi Wi=xiMi/Mn

20,000 0.30 6,000 0.20

30, 000 0.40 12,000 0.30

60, 000 0.30 18,000 0.50

Mw
Mw = 43,000 g/mol
Mi xi xiMi Xi(Mi)^2

20,000 0.30 6,000 120, 000,000

30, 000 0.40 12,000 360, 000, 000

60, 000 0.30 18,000 1, 080, 000, 000

Mw

Mw

Mw
 𝑀𝑤
𝑃𝐷𝐼=
𝑀𝑛

43,000 𝑔 /𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑃𝐷𝐼=
36,000 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝑃𝐷𝐼=1.19
Given the data below, calculate the following:

a. Number average molecular mass

b. Weight average molecular mass
c. PDI
Alternative solution;
Alternative solution;
Part III: POLYMERS
Rhona C. Adajar