Plastics

..Plastics are polymer. What is a polymer?

Polymers- large molecules made up of long chains of atoms covalently bonded together.
Monomers- small molecules used to synthesize the polymeric chain, like a strand of paper clips.
*polymers have been with us since the beginning of time
*natural polymers include such things as: cellulose, starch, tar and shellae, tortoise shell and horn, as well as
tree saps that produce amber and latex.
*These polymers were processed w/ heat and pressure into useful articles like hair ornaments and jewelry
*Natural polymers began to be chemically modified during the 1800s to produce many materials. The most
famous of these were vulcanized rubber, gun cotton and celluloid.
*the first semi-synthetic polymer produced was Bakelite in 1909 and was soon followed by the first
synthetic fiber, rayon, which was developed in 1911.
*The polymers (poly means many) can be formed from the same type of monomer or from a combination of
monomers
a.
b.
c.
(a) A representation of a monomer
(b) A representation of a polymer made one polymer
(c) A representation of a polymer made of two different monomers
*monomer
*polymer
*polymers are referred to as macromolecules because they involve thousands of atoms, and their molecular
masses can reach over a million.
(Many common classes of polymers are composed of hydrocarbons)
*carbons makes up the backbone of the molecule and the hydrogen atoms are bonded to the carbon atoms.
Below is a diagram of polyethylene, the simplest polymer structure.
*head-to-tail, head-to-tail
*head-to-head, tail-to-tail
*random
*in addition polymers, the monomers simply add to the growing polymer chain in such a way that the product
contains all the atoms of the starting material. (Ethylene monomer-> addition product)

*as additional ethylene molecules join, the chain grows

*(styrene monomer) The polystyrene foam used for Styrofoam cups is made by the same addition process.

Formation of Polyethylene: Mechanism

Initiating free- radical catalyst

.A free-radical process, initiated by a catalyst.

*stretching or necking a plastic bag
A. pulling a piece of PE
B. represents the molecular rearrangement as PE is stretched.
Branching alters the physical properties of PE
*straight chain (MDPE) (High density PE (MDPE) _ greater rigidity, strength, higher mp)
*branched chain (LDPE) (Low density PE (LDPE) - soft, stretchy, not too strong)
*recycling
-source reduction and reuse (most preferred): also called waste prevention. Means finding ways to reuse or
otherwise manage materials so that they never enter the waste stream. Reusable beverage containers and
mulching lawnmowers are good examples source reduction.
- recycling/ compositing: involves the collection of used and discarded materials processing these mat4erials
and making them into new products. It reduces the amount of waste that is thrown into the community dustbins
thereby making the environment cleaner and the air fresher to breathe
-Incineration (least preferred): combustion, involves the controlled burning of municipal solid waste.
Incineration reduces the volume of waste and saves spaces in landfills.
-landfilling (least preferred): involves the disposal of waste materials by burying it and covering it over the
soil.