UNIT – III

Polymers
Dr. Anita Dutt Konar
UGC- Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Chemistry and SOPS, RGPV, Bhopal
SLIDESMANIA.COM

Rishabh Ahuja
Department of Applied Chemistry, RGPV, Bhopal
 Contents...
1. Introduction
2. Classification of Polymers
3. Bio-polymerization and Bio-Degradable
Polymerization
4. Preparation, Properties and Technical
Applications of some polymers
5. Natural and Synthetic Rubber
6. Vulcanisation of Rubber
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Introduction
● The word ‘polymer’ is coined from two Greek words:
poly means many and mer means unit or part.
● It can be defined as very large molecules having high
molecular mass (103-107 u)
● These are also referred to as macromolecules, which are
formed by joining of repeating structural units on a large
scale.
● The repeating structural units are derived from some simple
and reactive molecules known as monomers and are linked
SLIDESMANIA.COM

to each other by covalent bonds.

 ● This process of formation of polymers from respective
monomers is called polymerisation.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● The polymers are highly useful in domestic industrial & medical fields.
● The following are the reasons for the extensive use of polymers.
1. Most of the polymers are non-toxic & safe to use.
2. They have low densities (light in weight) so transportation polymers will be
easy.
3. They posses good mechanical strength.
4. These are resistant to corrosion and will not absorb moisture when exposed
to the atmosphere.
5. These can function as good thermal & electrical insulators.
6. These can be moulded and fabricated easily.
* It is also interesting to note that many carbohydrates, Proteins & enzymes,
SLIDESMANIA.COM

DNA & RNA are natural polymers.

 Classification
● Polymers can be separated into plastics and
rubbers.
● As engineering materials, it is appropriate to
divide them into the following three categories:
1. Thermoplastic polymers
2. Thermosetting polymers
3. Elastomers
SLIDESMANIA.COM

(here (1) and (2) are plastics and (3) are rubbers)
 Thermoplastic Polymers
● Solid materials at room temperature but viscous liquids
when heated to temperatures of only a few hundred
degrees.
● This characteristic allows them to be easily and
economically shaped into products.
● They can be subjected to heating and cooling cycles
repeatedly without significant degradation.
● Examples: polythene, polystyrene, polyvinyls
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Thermosetting Polymers
● Cannot tolerate repeated heating cycles as
thermoplastics.
● When initially heated, they soften and flow for moulding.
● But at elevated temperatures also produce a chemical
reaction that hardens the material into an infusible solid.
● If reheated, thermosets degrade rather than soften.
● They cannot be reused.
● Examples: Bakelite, Urea-Formaldelyde resins etc.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Bakelite Jewellery
SLIDESMANIA.COM
SLIDESMANIA.COM
●
SLIDESMANIA.COM
●
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Bio-Polymers
● Many polymers which are present in plants and animals
such as polysaccharides (starch, cellulose), proteins and
nucleic acids etc. which control various life processes in
plants and animals are called biopolymers.
i. Starch : It is polymer of glucose. It is a chief food reserve
of plants.
ii. Cellulose : It is also a polymer of glucose. It is a chief
structural material of the plants.
Both starch and cellulose are made by plants from
SLIDESMANIA.COM

glucose produced during photosynthesis

 iii. Proteins : These are the polymers of amino acids.
● They have generally 20 to 1000 amino acids joined together
in a highly organized arrangement.
● These are building blocks of animals and constitute an
essential part of our food.
iv. Nucleic acids : These are polymers of various nucleotides.
● For example, RNA and DNA are common nucleotides.
● These biopolymers are very essential for our life.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Bio-Degradable Polymers
● A large number of bio degradable polymers are now
available and more are being added to the list.
● However, these are expensive, therefore, these find use
in special situations where cost factor can be ignored.
● In future, as their cost reduces these will find greater
use in daily life and will replace non-bio-degradable
polymers.
● Some important biodegradable polymers are PHBV, PGA,
SLIDESMANIA.COM

PLA and PCL.

 PHBV Poly-Hydroxybutyrate – co –b Hydroxyvalerte

● PHBV is a copolymer of 3 – hydroxy butanoic acid, and (3

– hydroxypentanoic acid), in which, the monomer units
are connected by ester linkages.
● The properties of PHBV vary according to the ratio of
both the acids.
● 3 – Hydroxybutanoic acid provides stiffness and 3 –
hydroxypentanoic acid imparts flexibility to the
copolymer.
(i) PHBV is used in orthopaedic devices and
SLIDESMANIA.COM

(ii) In controlled drug release.

RCOOR
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Poly Glycolic Acid (PGA)

● Polyglycolic acid is obtained by the chain polymerization of

dimer of glycolic acid, HO – CH2COOH.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 PCL - Poly (E-caprolactone)

● Obtained by chain polymerization of the lactone of 6 –

hydroxy hexanoic acid.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Preparation, Properties and Technical
Applications of some polymers
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)
● The monomer units are vinyl chloride molecules.
● PVC is prepared by heating vinyl chloride in an inert
solvent in the presence of dibenzoyl peroxide.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● PVC is a hard horny material.
● However, it can be made to acquire any degree of
pliability by the addition of a plasticizer.
● It is resistant to chemicals as well as heat.
● It is used for making rain coats, hand bags, toys,
hosepipes, gramophone records, electrical insulation
and floor covering.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Teflon (Poly tetra fluoro ethylene)
● Teflon is obtained by polymerization of water-emulsion
tetrafluoroethylene under pressure in presence of
benzoyl peroxide as catalyst.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Teflon is also known as Fluon due to the presence of highly
electronegative fluorine atoms.
● There are strong attractive forces responsible for high toughness &
high chemical resistance towards all chemicals except hot alkali
metal & hot fluorine.
Uses:-
● It is used in making seals & gaskets, which have to withstand high
temperature.
● It is also used for insulation of electrical items and for making non-
sticky surface coating, particularly for cooking utensils.
SLIDESMANIA.COM

● Teflon is used as insulating material for motors, transformers, cables,

wires, fitting etc.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Nylon 6,6
● It is prepared by condensation polymerization of adipic
acid and hexamethylene diamine in the absence of air.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Properties
● The structures of nylons are linear that permits side by side
alignment.
● Moreover, the molecular chains are held together by hydrogen
bonds.
● Thus, nylons have high crystalline nature which imparts high
strength, high melting point, elasticity, toughness, abrasion
resistance and retention of good mechanical properties up to
125oC.
SLIDESMANIA.COM

● They are polar polymers, they have good hydrocarbon

resistance.
 Applications
● The major application is in textile industry.
● Because of its high thermal & abrasion resistance nylons are used
in mechanical engineering applications like gears, bearings,
machine parts where greater friction is present.
● Flexible tubing’s for conveying petrol etc are made from nylons.
● Used as electrical insulators.
● Nylon 6 is used for making tyre cords.
● Used in automobile industry and telecommunication industry for
SLIDESMANIA.COM

making radiator parts and coil formers respectively.

 Dacron or Polyester (or) Terylene (or) Polyethylene
Phthalate

● These categories of polymers have ester linkages in the

main chain.
● Terylene is a polyester fiber made from ethylene glycol
and terephthalic acid.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Properties
● This occurs as a colourless rigid substance.
● This is highly resistant to mineral & organic acids but is less resistant
to alkalies.
● This is hydrophobic in nature.
● This has high melting point due to presence of aromatic ring.
Uses
● It is mostly used for making synthetic fiber.
● It can be blended with wool, cotton for better use and wrinkle
resistance.
SLIDESMANIA.COM

● Other application of poly ethylene terephthalate film is in electrical

insulation.
 Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)

● PVA is unique among polymers in that it is not built up

in polymerization reactions from single-unit precursor molecules
known as monomers.
● Instead, PVA is made by dissolving another polymer, polyvinyl
acetate (PVAc), in an alcohol such as methanol and treating it with
an alkaline catalyst such as sodium hydroxide.
● The resulting hydrolysis, or “alcoholysis,” reaction removes the
acetate groups from the PVAc molecules without disrupting their
long-chain structure.
[CH2CH(OAc)]n + C2H5OH → [CH2CH(OH)]n + C2H5OAc
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a colourless, water
soluble synthetic resin employed principally in the
treating of textiles and paper.
● PVA is used in sizing agents that gives greater strength to
textile yarns and make paper more resistant to oils and
greases.
● It is also employed as a component of adhesives and
emulsifiers, as a water-soluble protective film, and as a
SLIDESMANIA.COM

starting material for the preparation of other resins.

 Phenol Formaldehyde Resin (Bakelite)

● The condensation reaction of phenol & formaldehyde in the

presence of acid or alkali catalyst and at proper temperature
produces the phenol formaldehyde resin or Bakelite resin.
● The reaction starts with the initial formation of o-and/or p-
hydroxymethylphenol derivatives, which further react with phenol to
form compounds having rings joined to each other through –CH2
groups.
● The initial product could be a linear product – Novolac used in
paints.
● Novolac on heating with formaldehyde undergoes cross linking to
SLIDESMANIA.COM

form an infusible solid mass called bakelite.

SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Properties:-
(1) Phenol resins are hard, rigid and strong materials
(2) They have excellent heat and moisture resistance.
(3) They have good chemical resistance
(4) They have good abrasion resistance
(5) They have electrical insulation characteristics
(6) They are usually dark coloured
(7) Lower molecular weight grades have excellent bonding
strength and adhesive properties.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Applications:-
(1) It is used for making electric insulator parts like switches, plugs, switch
boards etc.
(2) For making moulded articles like telephone parts cabinet of radio and
television
(3) As an anion exchanger in water purification by ion exchange method in
boilers
(4) As an adhesive (binder) for grinding wheels etc.,
(5) In paints and varnishes
(6) For making bearings used in propeller shafts, paper industry and rolling
mills
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Urea Formaldehyde

● Urea-formaldehyde (UF), also known as urea-methanal, so named for its

common synthesis pathway and overall structure, is
a nontransparent thermosetting resin or polymer.
● It is produced from urea and formaldehyde. (NH2CONH2)
● These resins are used in adhesives, plywood, particle board, medium-density
fibreboard (MDF), and moulded objects.
● UF and related amino resins are a class of thermosetting resins of which urea-
formaldehyde resins make up 80% produced worldwide.
● Examples of amino resins use include in automobile tyres to improve the
bonding of rubber to tyre cord, in paper for improving tear strength, in
moulding electrical devices, jar caps, etc.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Urea-formaldehyde resins attributes include high tensile strength, flexural
modulus, high heat-distortion temperature, low water absorption, mould
shrinkage, high surface hardness, elongation at break, and volume
resistance.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Natural Rubber

● It is a polymer of unsaturated hydrocarbon, 2-methyl-1, 3-butadiene

also called isoprene.
● It is obtained from the latex of rubber trees found in tropical and semi-
tropical countries such as India (southern part), Indonesia, Malayasia,
Ceylon, South America, etc.
● The latex contains about 25-40% of rubber hydrocarbons dispersed in
water alongwith stabilizer proteins and some fatty acids.
● It is a natural polymer and possess remarkable elasticity.
● It undergoes long range reversible extension under relatively small
applied force.
● This elasticity makes it valuable for a variety of uses.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● In natural rubber 10,000 to 20,000 isoprene units are linked
together.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Drawbacks of raw rubber.
Raw natural rubber has a number of drawbacks. For example :
1. Rubber is brittle at low temperature and becomes very soft at high
temperatures. Thus it can be used only in the limited temperature range of
10-60oC
2. It is too soft to be used for heavy duty operation. Its tensile strength is only
200 Kg/cm2.
3. On stretching, it undergoes permanent deformation.
4. Not resistant to mineral oils, organic solvents and even action of water. It has
large water absorption capacity.
5. On exposure to air, it undergoes peroxidation. As a result, its durability is
SLIDESMANIA.COM

considerably decreased.
 Vulcanization of Rubber

● The wide applications of rubber are due to its property called elasticity
and that is why rubber is said to be an elastoplastic or elastomer.
● Accidentally, in 1893, Charles Goodyears discovered that addition of
sulphur to hot rubber cause changes that improve its physical
properties in a spectacular manner.
● This process is called vulcanization.
● It is carried out by heating crude rubber in presence of sulphur or
dipping it in a solution of S2Cl2 in CS2.
● Vulcanisation depends upon :
(i) The amount of sulphur used : by increasing the amount of sulphur
rubber can be hardened
SLIDESMANIA.COM

(ii) Temperature
(iii) Duration of heating.
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 Synthetic Rubber

● Synthetic high polymers possessing similar physical properties as

that of natural rubber are called synthetic rubber.
● Usually synthetic rubber is an improvement over natural rubber,
specially with respect to its resistance to oils, gas, solvents, etc.
● Synthetic rubber has been produced by the polymerization of a large
number of conjugated dienes resembling to isoprene.
● The Buna Rubber (polymers of butadiene) was prepared by Germans
by the action of sodium on butadiene and that is why such synthetic
rubber is known as “Buna” rubber (“Bu” from butadiene and “na”
from the symbol of sodium Na).
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Neoprene : This synthetic rubber resembles natural rubber in its properties.
It is obtained by polymerization of chloroprene.

● Chloroprene is obtained by the reaction of HCl with vinylacetylene

SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Neoprene is superior to natural rubber in its stability to aerial oxidation and
its resistance to oils, gasoline and other solvents
Neoprene is used for
(i) making belts, hoses, shoe heals, stoppers, etc. and
(ii) manufacture of containers for storing petrol, oil and other solvents.
Buna – S:
● It is obtained by polymerization of butadiene and styrene in presence of
sodium metal. It is used for
(i) making automobile tyres.
(ii) rubber soles, belts and hoses etc
SLIDESMANIA.COM
 ● Buna – N : It is obtained by copolymerization of two parts
of butadiene and one part of acrylonitrile in presence of
sodium metal.
● Buna – N is hard and extremely resistant to the swelling
action by oils (petrol), solvents and is resistant to heat,
etc.
Uses :
(i) It is used for the manufacture of storage tanks for
solvents and
SLIDESMANIA.COM

(ii) For making oil seals.

Thank
you!
SLIDESMANIA.COM