Many + Parts This name hints at

how polymers are

made

Latin: Plasticus, that This name honors

which can be molded plastics useful property
of being easily molded
The word, polymer, implies that polymers are
constructed from pieces (monomers) that can be
easily connected into long chains (polymer). When
you look at the above shapes, your mind should see
that they could easily fit together.
Cotton fiber is mostly cellulose, and
cellulose is made of chains of the sugar,
glucose linked together a certain way.
 Glucose Glucose
Two ring-shape
Structural formula.
versions
Straight chain
glucose
H-C=O
1 Glucose Used in
glucose bending making
|2 starch
H-C-OH
|3
flips
HO-C-H either
| bends way
4 alpha-glucose
H-C-OH
|5
H-C-OH
|6 Used in
CH2OH making
cellulose
Glucose bends itself into 4
different shapes millions of
times a second beta-glucose
Nylon is used in clothes,
shoes, jackets, belts, and
accessories. It’s not
surprising a magazine is
named after this polymer.
Where did nylon get its
name?

Nylon was discovered in 1935. The name nylon is

derived from two cities where it was discovered namely
New York (NY) and London (LON).
 Two ingredients are mixed and a solid begins to form
at the junction between the two layers of liquid.

Hot nylon spaghetti can be extracted.

We say certain polymers are man-made, but the truth is they

make themselves. Humans only have to get the ingredients
near each other. The chemicals will assemble themselves.
The students are handling the nylon string that was produced.
Notice there’s some kind of odor that is being noticed.
 Tetramethylene
dicarboxylic acid Hexamethylene diamine
(adipic acid)

methylene x 6 (hexa) amine x 2 (di)

Nylon is actually a “copolymer” because is it made

from two monomers. When these two monomers
are in the same beaker, they combine and give off
a molecule of water. This is called a “dehydration”
reaction because we are taking away (de) water
(hydra). (regarding odor: amines smell like fish or
worse. Adipic acid is odorless )
 Polyester is a
another
copolymer. It
is made from
equal amounts
of two different
monomers.
Polyester is
used to make
bottles and
fabrics.
Polyester is made from the two monomers, terephthalic acid (note: “ph” is
silent) and ethylene glycol (car antifreeze). This makes a popular plastic
called PETE, which is short for Polyethylene Terephthalate. The synthesis
is also a dehydration reaction because water is given off.

PETE

O
H O C

ESTER groups formed Hence the name POLYESTER

There was even a movie
called "Polyester" which
showcased a carefree
lifestyle. Polyester fabrics
were "drip-dry" also called
“wash and wear”, meaning
they were quick to wash,
quick to dry, and no
ironing needed. This freed
you to have fun rather
than doing household
chores.
A polymer made
form just one
monomer is
polyethylene. It
is the most
common plastic
you see.
It is used for
bottles, buckets,
jugs, containers,
toys, even
synthetic
lumber, and
many other
things.
Before we show how polyethylene is made from its monomer,
ethylene, let’s review the structure of some similar compounds
to ethylene.
 Ethylene has two carbons; plus, instead of the two carbons
sharing just one electron each, they share two electrons each.
High temperature or UV light can cause two of these shared
(paired) electrons to become unshared (unpaired).

H H TheseHunpaired electrons
H are eager to pair
- - up with another electron. If this ethylene
C C molecule
C bumps another
C ethylene
molecule, the unpaired electrons will cause
- - the one it bumped into to lend one of its
H H
H
inner electrons. H

- - - - - -

- - - - - -
 Here’s another way to see the chain
reaction. These are the carbon atoms
with their double-bond (2 shared
electrons each). The hydrogen atoms
are not shown. A collision breaks the
first bond.

Once the first double bond is broken, a chain reaction will

occur. In about a second an entire chamber of compressed
ethylene gas turns into the polymer, polyethylene.
 There are two types of
polyethylene polymers
(plastics). One is when
the polyethylene exists as
long straight chains. The
picture here shows the
chains of one carbon with
two hydrogen atoms
repeating. The chain can
be as long as 20,000
carbons to 35,000
carbons. This is called
high density polyethylene
(HDPE).
 When the chains get up to
500,000 carbons long, they
are tough enough for
synthetic ice, replacement
joints, and bullet-proof vests.
   Think about it. You start
with ethylene gas molecules
that can't stop a feather from
passing through them. But
after the double-bond of one
ethylene molecule breaks, it
causes a chain reaction that
connects thousands to it. In
less than a second, these
long straight chains of
carbon and hydrogen are
strong enough to stop a
bullet or play ice hockey on.
Isn't chemistry wonderful.
We've mentioned high density polyethylene (HDPE); you
probably were thinking, there must be low density polyethylene
(LDPE). You are correct. It is made by causing the long chains
of ethylene to branch. That way they cannot lie next each
other, which reduces the density and strength of the
polyethylene. This makes the plastic lighter and more flexible.
Low density polyethylene is used to make
plastic bags, plastic wrap, and squeeze bottles,
plus many other things.
Another polymer, which is almost the same as
polyethylene, is PolyVinyl Chloride or PVC.
The difference is that every other hydrogen is
replaced with a chlorine atom (green sphere).
(CH2CHCl)n + O2  CO2 + CO + HCl + H2O
PVC pipes are used in our homes
and they are even handy for making
a table or chair. PVC is also used as
insulation around electric wires in the
home and the automobile. PVC is
quite safe until it burns. The
chlorines in the PVC combine with
the hydrogen atoms in the PVC to
form hydrogen chloride gas (HCl).
When this contacts water in lungs or
mouth, it turns to hydrochloric acid
(HCl(aq)).
There are many types of plastics, but they all are based on taking one or two
small molecules and starting a chain reaction that connects hundreds or
thousands of these small molecules into long chains or branching chains. By
controlling the length and the branching, you can control the final hardness
or flexibility of the polymer plus qualities like resistance to solvents, acids, or
heat.
The favorite properties of plastics are that they are inert and won't
react with what is stored in them. They also are durable and won't
easily decay, dissolve, or break apart. These are great qualities
for things you keep, but when you throw them away, they won't
decompose.
Since they don’t decompose, the answer is to recycle
the plastics so they can be remade into something
else. Here we see a bunch of CDs getting recycled.
The decks, fence, stepping stones, house shingles, and the
sweat shirt, were all made from recycled plastic.
The mile long boardwalk at Yellowstone National
Park was made from recycled plastic.