CHAPTER 4: POLYMER

No Questions/Topics Answer/Notes Remarks (t\

1 What is a polymer? / is a long chain molecule that is made from a
combination of many repeating basic units.

2 Basic unit of polymer Monomer

3 Types of polymers naturalpolymers

synthetic polymers

4 Name the process to Polymertsation reaction

produce
polymerlmonomer effi
combination reaction
to produce a polymer
w dla*
#
Mon*nrer
I
l,*lyruerisation

*Wru
t
I

F*lp6*"

5 Types of ./ additionpolymerisation
polymerisation ./ condensation polymerisation
reaction

b Addition / occurs when monomers that have double

polymerisation covalent bonds between two carbon atoms, c=c
react with one another

HH r{H
tt
n9-?+ 1t
HH
tt lt
It F{ n
rt = [Link] irtt*grt

Monomer Pelymer

7 Condensation / involve at least two different monomers

polymerisation ,/ the monomers involved consist of two functional
groups that willtake part in the polymerisation
reaction.
./ the products: polymer + by-product (water
molecule or hydrogen chloride molecules)

8 Example of ) Production of terylene

condensation
polymerisation
+ n40

i,l-ah,rne,irr:l Terephdra{ir a;i,l Wd(

iEto. {rnot'r'no't $1.7

(Cortoorglud tn
uY)
 F Production of nylon 6,10
HHHHHH H., $llHHfiflnHi{a
^ltrltr
/tlltl
tfl
d-xr
r \". t tlt.t iltlll
'tttttttl
L_L_L-U-L-L-T/-L -L-L \^.
., I
N HHHHI{ I I i I
*H [Link] LI

Le-fuxr*e,furrrice $eereriioJ'ldie&iodde
*
HHHHHHHH o H ri r tt x tr n u ol
tlriiitlfl Ittttttlll
l{*c-c-$-c-c-c- &-a- c- c- c- c- c- c- c- c- -t*, + It Hc}
tlttrittttttttl [Link]{HHH
HHHHHH
c

$&u IIIl l$mgen

*isri&

F Production of nylon 6,6

u tl,+tlqlllf H
a

n il-$-; .N,

rii i-t" -L-!-l-i-z-*

,r,!ou,r'&o"ioo 'l'iiti
/lt
oc;d
Heire't'6'&;oic

Ii-i-ii-i-Ll-i
rll,,i,i
!r[-[ -'+ i-E+ 1
i H.n i'r
nil,o
Lreie(
I l,l ),
9 Classification of is based on J
polymer / the source of polymer
./ how the polymer is produced
,/ the characteristics of the polymer produced
10 Classification of Natural polymer
polymer based on the Synthetic polymer
source of polymer

11 Natural polymers { Are polymers that are naturally available and can
obtained from our surroundings

12 Example of natural ,/ Natural rubber (poyisoprene)

polymers monomer: isoprene

./ Protein
monomer: amino acid

,/ Cellulose
monomer: glucose

{ Starch
monomer. glucose

./ Cotton
monomer. glucose
13 Synthetic polymer Are man-made polymers that produce through
chemical reactions in laboratories or factories.
The monomer for synthetic polymers usually
obtained from petroleum after refining and
cracking process

Examples:

polymers and thermosetting polymers)

14 Examples of synthetic Th rouqh Addition pclymerisation:

polymer and their F Polythene/polyethen#polyethylene
monomer.
r r 11
+i-i1
uu
I Jn

Monorner: Ethene
Htl
ll
n c--c
1l
Htl
6tt ft
Characteristic: Durable and strong
Uses:
. use as plastic bags, plastic bottle, plastic packaging

Polypropene
l{
I

L-
I
H

Monomer: Propene'tl tl
It
n l"L
tl
H cHr
Characteristic: Durable
Uses:
. use to make various medical and laboratory apparatus,
toys and textile

F Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) /Polychloroethene

[u
It
u"]
I
+L-c+
I

lr rl
I u cr Jq
Monomer: Chloroethene
l'l
ll
H

n L'-9
1l
HCt
Characteristic: strong and hard
Uses:
. use to make water pipes and electrical insulators

"'*T-[1.

Monomer Styrene
l.l
ll
H

n L-' cl
l.l
11a
Characteristic: Light and heat insulator
Uses:
. use to make heat insulators and food packaging

) Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethene)
Use: to make the lining of non-sticking pan

tr r I
l?- ?I
t F t)n
Monomer: Tetrafl uoroethene
F(
ll
n-tl C=c
fF
F Perspex (Polymethyl-2-methylpropenoate
Polymethyl methacrylate)
Use: to make the window of aircrafts

H CH"
I tt
C-
I t

H C0.(,Us
Monomer: Methyl-2-methylpropenoate
(methyl methacrylate)
tJ clt
ll
n q=c
rl
l.l co'cLli

Throush Condensation polvmerisation

F Terylene (a type of polyester)

Htr
o-i
P
4> 81
-'c-o-t'
h,i
Monomer.
,/1,2-ethanediol lethane-'1,2-diol (alcoholi
t1 H

n Ho-
+'+-oFl
r,l I
Iee|fit^*l;w
{ T-eLeP[!11€tlic acidlben zene- 1, 4-dicarboxylic acid
(dicarboxylic acid)

o
rl
HO -C -oA

F Nylon {a type of polyamide) llyiOn 6 , r0

]

l;*ifi- I - y - i-i-i-L!l -t -t'i-81

+I-i-uHP'
L FHr Iii'i iillHi i I

Monomer:
./ 1 ,6-diaminohexane /1 ,6-hexaneoiamine/le [Link]}- I t 'J;r-inL
Hf
q H-N'?'l-l-i-L-t-l-[-u
l r r
H H H H HFI
I
 l0c
Decanedioyl dichloride

O[lil',1tl -l P If i
a -tL'-';-'€-A-V' c - c-L'c'c'cl
i, { i{t ,l il,i ll

Uses:
. use to produce threads for textile industry (making
clothes)
. add as reinforcement in rubber materials such as
tyres
. use to make ropesffishneUtoothbrush
bristle/carpet)
. use as nylon film in food packaging
. use to produce plastic components in engine
compartment of vehicles

15 Classiflcation of ,/ Thermoplastic polymers

polymers based on { Thermosettingpolymers
BpBs of polymers / Elastomer polymers
(harocle ristit,9
16 Thermoplastic
upon heating and can be recycled.
'{t,ff^p+it1
17 Molecular structure of
thermoplastic
q.q o--O-s* **o=fo$t cl'a',a
polymers ()--c,*-s..'--#-{"-1
{}-.fir*-"$-'fl}*-*
d*.%-
* no CroSj-linlc-
be*"teea +ho
Eho''ag
fqgopt
do snde ov$ ea ofirr
18 Examples of polythene J
thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride(PVC)
polymers
?'"'ir?"n" )h,y'n oi in
,/ polystyrene

i H'f#X!Xi,r**n
*nylon
cryrate) *!flfr 'ttrt?=i,', q4tuffi
& terylene are the synthetic fibres

19 Thermosetting Are polymers that cannot be remoulded after

polymers heating
+,4
,t.t tul
normally witldisintegrate/ burn upon heating and
cannot be recycled

20 Molecular structure of o4-c*r\*C- I

L'" ?olttFOr
U-6W\o
thermosetting
polymers c*|.''{''ru_
ei*** rcds,lioE
d'--"{.;---
haVo cfi's
l:nlc betwes,
*he [Link]
J
choi|s

1"t {trg.{rqnn
(
I
a3 o,tec '[Link] o tne
 :

21 Examples of / Bakelite
thermosetting ./ Melamine
polymers '/ Epoxy resin

22 Elastomer polymers
to their originalshape when released.

23 Molecular structure of
elastomer polymers

24 Examples of
ffi**rink
./ polyurethane
elastomer polymers '/ styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)
,/ neoprene
/ silicone rubber
./ Thiokol
./ Nitrile rubber
*all the above examples are synthetic polymers

. natural rubber is natural polymer that is classified

as elastomer polymer

25 Characteristics of
synthetic polymers

26 Polymers and the most synthetic polymers are durable and take very
environment long time to disintegrateldecompose

can cause serious water/marine pollution and land

pollution

marine pollution causes many marine creatures to

die as they mistaken the polymers/plastics as their
food

the microplastics from the polymers will enter the

food chain.

landfillwill be filled non-biodegradable plastics and

muse the land pollution and the spread of
diseases.

the blockage of the drains with plastic bags will

cause the flash flood.

27 Methods to ensure 5R programme lZero waste

more sustainable use
of polymersiplastics. programme to ensure synthetic polymer do not end
up in landfills
 Production of degradable polymers

decom pose naturally by bacteria (biodegradable

plastic) or decornpose by light (photodegradable
plastic)

28 Natural rubber is a carbon compound t qao qorbo0 C,oayevn6

natural polymer (polyisoprene) from latex secreted
by rubber tree {Hevea brasiliensis) when the tree
bark is tapped

I.r,- cr-l:c -cHl

L lr, -.1 n

Latex:
white truio 7flfft (Ydro"a)
is a colloidand not a solution.
*rubber particles do not dissolve in water but disperse
separately in water

29 Monomer of natural
rubber

Structural formula:
HI-IH
l, l, 'L 'l
H-C--C--C:C-H
I
*Hu

3o Characteristics of [Link] but the elasticity will decrease over time

natura[ rubber
original shape when released

[Link]

3"Cannot withstand high temperature/low heat resistance

soft and sticky Ib,;519

[Link] oxidised

between carbon and cause the natural rubber to be

oxidised

5. Reactive to chemicals

solvents

6. Waterproof
ll' Products of natural
rubber
-medicalgloves
-erasers
-aeroplane's tyres
-rubber band
-shoe soles

3L Vulcanisation of
rubber elastic and with better quality through the
production of cross-links befueen the polymer
chains.

between carbons found in the rubber molecules

will react with sulphur lother substances to produce
sulphur cross-links.

Diagram:
*'
aH,
'
iH, i'n' 'l

I I -,:,r, C-fti-tt.-ijH -t-ltH-al.-

*iill:-C:Cl.-Cli.-rtil ,rt:iH*i:l-i:-
, i i i l*iul.i]u,
*--&-iii'-'r"-" S i : q .t\r')htlli
Ci, *r--|i *itH *r_'-aii*rjH
: I .- I I I l
-rlii --i: I -
-CF_i_i_f_iF__iH_a__r_:H_ilr.-
in+*,
' (tr]l'h"r
li
;-lH. riH_

Simple diagram:
I
rubber f,Jn*t
**{*C **"* L* CJ-. -*C; c*-*'"' :i( etL

-^-{--'-
l!
S I **t*
/ -rPC--6"/
^.L-L dl
* L-L*4 *(.-{
b ,,'
-*-- (; C -:"-* C"-C---'^* s
t
( . <C
t
r-\
vavil{oo'sed "*C5 L -'*
tvbbQ,r + Svlyhur
lvlCant[eJ {ubkr
93 Vulcanisation method Dipping natural rubber into solution of disulphur dichloride
SzClz in methylbenzene (main method)

31 Alternative 1. By using metal oxide:

vulcanisation methods
to produce vulcanised with the presence of zinc oxide (catalyst)
rubber that is free
from sulphur and 2. by using peroxide
more environmental-
friendly. 3. irradiation

35 Explain why the

vulcanized rubber is linkage befiareen the molecules that able to pullthe
more elastic than rubber molecules back to their original position.
unvulcanised rubber.

3u Explain the Coaqulation of latex bv addins a weak acid

coagulation of latex.
molecules/polymers enclosed by a layer of protein
membrane.

causes the rubber particles repel each other.

 -/i-=1.., \-
--a-

)
|
j-
-\, "-

-1\ *! !i. \-
r'-: l
- -\
'i: r
-! I
--:}'I
.t. --/*

acid) is added hydrogen ions, H* from the acid

neutralise the negative charges on the protein
membrane.

As a result, the rubber particles become neutral

and no longer repeleach other. The rubber
particles collide each other and break the thin
protein membrane.

The rubber molecules (polymers) are set free.

The free rubber molecules come closer to combine

with one another and entangle.
This enables latex to coagulate / solidifu.

f )

\* *_J
Coaqulatio! qf latex qaturally by leaving it exposed to
the air
)required longer time because small amount of lactic acid
is secreted

moleculeslpolymers enclosed by a layer of protein

membrane.

causes the rubber particles repel each other.

 l#hen the latex is exposed to the air, the bacteria
in the air will enter the latex.

Bacteria will react with latex to produce lactic acid,

The hydrogen ion from the laetic acid neukalizes

the negative charges of protein membrane.

Rubber particles collide with one another and

cause the breakdanm of protein membrane.

the rubber moleculeslpolymers are set free.

The free rubhr molecules came closerio combine

with one another and entangle-

this enables latex to coagulate / solidifu.

31 Explain how the The repulsion between the negatively-charged

ammonia solution can particles prevents the rubber particles from coming
prevent the close to each other"
coagulation of latex.

[Link]*icle Lnngchainnrbkr L'Iegativ€ly €h*r$ed

rnclesule prctein nrrmhraae

Lactic acid produced by bacteria will neutralize the

negative charges on the protein membrane.

|rr:tiriL i1:,ll1.r 1tt111;111-slrl

lr,'::: .trir" ..ri .,.t :'Lt.,'i;

usually added to latex to preserve the latex in the

liquid state.

OH- that neutralizes the lactic acid produced by

bacteria.
 the protein membrane of the rubber particles
remains negatively-charged,

the rubber particles will continue to repeleach

other and the latex will remain as liquid

eoagulation of latex does not take place

38 Coagulant for latex

*any organic acidlacidic solution (containing hydrogen
ions)

s1 Compare to strong
acids, weak acids are pH drops too fast and not hcmogenous
normally used to
coagulate latex. mechanical properties.
Explain why.

+o Anticoagulant for latex

"any alkaline solution (containing hydroxide ions)

tlt Synthetic rubber

elastomer polymer.

of petroleum ,il t,^ .or_

t1t- Examples of synthetic neoprene (polychloroprene) fif J' ,r,/
rubbers styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)

flli:?:i'Wi'ur"+.urab Q+h'licae [Link]"$.4

Nitrire rub#r t ta t*-fi!
lfict
/l3 Characteristics of
synthetic rubber
a

++ Uses of synthetic [Link] {golvchloroprene}

rubber Characteristics:

fiame resistanre
Uses:
{ use to make canveyor hfts, petrol rubber hoses
and gloves

2. Sturene-butadiene rubhr (SBRI

Characteristics:

Uses:
,/ use to make tyres and shoe soles

3. Silicone rubber
Characteristics:

Uses:
{ use to make medicalimplants, cooking uteneils,
automotive compnents and sealants

4. Thiokol
Characteristics:

Uses:
{ use to make sealants

[Link] {ubler
Characteristim:

Uses:
{ use to make gloves

q5 Uses of rubber and

the environment environmental pollution

decompose and make disposal difficult

/synthetic rubber is hard to decompose and can
cause pollution if does not dispose systematically
*rubber materials have to be recycled and reused to
reduce the rubber materials waste.
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