Polymerisation

BASIC POLYMER CHEMISTRY

PLYMERIZATION

Addition Polymerization;

Most packaging plastics

Needs the correct conditions of temperature & pressure
Catalysts & promoters aid the process

Condensation Polymerization/Step-growth;
PET & polyamide (nylon)
Joins 2 reactive monomers and releases water

Rearrangement monomers link together

without losing any atoms, but rearrange
themselves

Addition Polymers

Addition Polymerization
Polyethylene

Addition Polymerization (cont)

Polystyrene

Addition Polymerization (cont)

Teflon

Uses for Some

Addition
Polymers

Addition / chain-growth polymerization

(cont.)
E.g. (cont.)

Ring opening of strained cyclic

monomer

Ring opening polymerization of trioxane

Condensation Polymers
or Step-Growth

Condensation Polymers
Involves 2 monomers that have different
functional groups.
They also involve the elimination of
water or another small molecule.
Hence the term condensation polymer.
Monomer A + Monomer B Polymer +
small molecule (normally water).
Common condensation polymers include
polyesters (the ester linkage) and
polyamides (the amide linkage as in
proteins).
May be natural (protein, starch, cotton,

 Suitable functional groups

-NH2

amine

O
-C
carboxyl
chloride
OH

-OH alcohol

-C

O
acid
Cl

Polyesters
The example here is terylene, a polymer of benzene1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol.
The ester linkage is formed between the monomers

O
C
O
the ester linkage

Polyesters
Condensation Polymers

Polyesters
The structures polyesters
n HO

C OH + n HO CH2 CH2 OH
heat with
an acid
catalyst
O

C O CH2

CH2 O
n

poly(ethan-1,2-diyl benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate)

Polyamides
These involve the linkage of two monomers through
the amide linkage as in proteins (e.g. silk)

O
C N
H
the amide linkage

Nylon 6,6 a polyamide

H

H
N

(CH2)6

O
C

HO

1,6-diaminohexane

N
H

O
(CH2)4 C

OH

hexanedioic acid

(CH2)6

N C

(CH2)4 C

H
part of a nylon polymer chain

Kevlar a polyamide
O
H2N

O
C

NH2

HO

(CH2)4 C

O
N

N C

O
(CH2)4

part of the kevlar polymer chain

OH

Uses of polyamides
The main use of polyesters and polyamides is as
fibres in clothing.
Most clothing now has a degree of manufactured
fibres woven into the natural material (such as
cotton).
This gives the material more desirable
characteristics, such as stretchiness, and better
washability.
Dont forget that proteins are also polyamides,
you must know how the linkage works with
natural polymers such as proteins.

Polyamides
Condensation Polymers

Phenol-Formaldehyde Polymers
(Thermosetting, Condensation)

Network Structure of Resin Formed From

Phenol and Formaldehyde

Condensation

O
O
H
O
C
R
C
O
H
H
O
R
'
O
H
C
R
C
O
R
'
O
O
O
C
R
C
N
H
R
'
N
H
H
N
R
'
N
H
H
O
C
R
C
O
H
2
2
O
H
H
O
R
'
O
C
N
R
N
C
O
O
C
NRO
N
C
O
H
O
R
'
O
H
O
H
O
C
C
H
R
C
H
C
H
2
R
H
2
O
O
O
C
C
C
C
N
R
'
N
R
H
N
R
'
N
H
O
R
O
2
2
OO OO

Typical Condensation Polymers

Polymer
Polyester
Polyamide
Polyurethane
Epoxy
Polyimide

Linkage

(Proton
donor)