CHAPTER
15 Polymers
Polymers: Polymers are high molecular mass macro molecules. Plasticizers are high boiling esters or haloalkanes. These are
Polymerisation: The process by which the monomers added to plastics to make them soft like rubber.
(simple molecules) combine with each other and transform Thermosetting plastics: These are normally semifluid
into polymers, is known as polymerisation. substances with low molecular masses. e.g., Bakelite,
Natural polymers: Those polymers which occur in nature, melamine-formaldehyde resin and urea-formaldehyde resin.
i.e., in plants or animals, are called natural polymers, e.g.
starch, cellulose, proteins, natural rubber. Free radical addition polymerisation: The monomers used
Synthetic polymers: The polymers which are prepared are generally monosubstituted alkenes.
in the laboratory are known as synthetic polymers or Cationic polymerisation: It involves formation of
man-made polymers, e.g. polythene, synthetic rubber, PVC, carbocation
nylon 6,6, teflon, orlon etc.
Anionic polymerisation: It involves formation of a
Semi-synthetic polymers: Polymers obtained by making
carbanion.
some modification in natural polymers by artificial means,
are known as semisynthetic polymers, e.g. cellulose acetate Polyamides: The polymers which contain amide linkages in
(rayon), vulcanised rubber etc. chain are known as polyamide, e.g. nylon 6,6.
Linear polymers: These are the polymers in which the Natural Rubber: Natural rubber is a coiled linear 1,4-polymer
monomer units are linked to one another to form long linear of isoprene.
chains, e.g., high density polyethene, nylon and polyesters are
linear polymers. The process of introducing –S–S– crosslinks in the structure
Branched chain polymers: In such polymers, the monomer of rubber by heating with sulphur at 110°C is called
units are linked to form long chains with some branched vulcanisation of rubber.
chains of different lengths attached to the main linear chain. Polyesters: The polymers which contain ester linkages are
Some common examples of such polymers are low density known as polyester, e.g. dacron.
polyethene, starch, glycogen etc.
Biopolymers and Biodegradable Polymers: Synthetic
Cross-linked polymers or network polymers: These are
polymers are mostly non-biodegradable. Natural polymers
formed from bi-functional and tri-functional monomers.
Examples of cross linked polymers are bakelite, glyptal, are called biopolymers, e.g. polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic
melamine-formaldehyde polymer etc. acids, etc. Biodegradable polymers can be easily degraded by
Addition polymers: The polymers formed by the microorganism in a reasonable period. Aliphatic polyesters
polymerisation of monomers containing double or triple are the common examples of biodegradable polymers.
bonds (unsaturated compounds) are called addition polymers.
e.g. polythene, orlon, PVC, Buna-S, etc. Important Polymers
Condensation polymers: The polymers which are formed Saran is a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and Vinyl
by the combination of monomers with the elimination of chloride and is used for wrapping food materials.
small molecules such as water, alcohol, hydrogen chloride ABS rubber is a copolymer of acrylonitrile, buta-1,3-
etc., are known as condensation polymers, e.g. nylon 6,6,
Dacron, Bakelite etc. diene and styrene.
Elastomers: These are rubber like solid polymers in which the Bubble gum contains styrene butadiene (Buna-S) rubber.
polymer chains are held together by weakest intermolecular Dynel is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile and
forces, e.g. natural rubber, Buna-S, Buna-N etc. is used for making human hair wigs.
Fibres: Fibres belong to a class of polymers which are Silk is a thread like natural polymer which is obtained
thread-like and can be woven into fabrics. A few examples of
from cocoons of silk worms. It is a natural polyamide
this class are nylon 6,6, terylene and polyacrylonitrile (PAN).
fibre.
Thermoplastics: These are linear polymers and have weak
van der Waals’ forces acting in the various chains, e.g. Thermocol is a foamed plastic obtained by blowing air
polyethene and polystyrene. through molten polystyrene or polyurethane.