SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

NATURALLY OCCURRING POLYMERS

This group consists of naturally occurring polymers and chemical modifications of these polymers. Cellulose, starch, lignin, chitin, and various polysaccharides are included in this group. These materials and their derivatives offer a wide range of properties and applications. Natural polymers tend to be readily biodegradable, although the rate of degradation is generally inversely proportional to the extent of chemical modification.

Naturally occuring polymers exist in plants or animals Natural polymers are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen Examples of naturally occuring polymers are (a) Protein : in muscles, s in, sil , hair, wool and fur (b) Car o!y"rates : in starch and cellulose (c) Natural ru er : in latex !roteins is formed by the polymerisation or monomers nown as amino acids
polymerisation

amino acids
#monomers$

protein
#polymer$

Carbohydrates such as starch and cellulose consist of monomers nown as glucose "oined together chemically.
polymerisation

glucose
#monomers$

carbohydrates
#polymer$

Natural rubber found in latex consists of monomers nown as isoprene # $ methylbuta %, & diene ' "oined together chemically. Natural rubber comprises the molecules of the monomer $(methyl(%,&(butadiene, also called isopropene, "oined together to form a long chain.

SYNT%ETIC POLYMERS
)ynthetic polymer is a polymer that is manufactured in industry from chemical substances through the polymerisation process. Through research, scientists are now able to copy the structure of natural polymers to produce synthetic polymers. !lastics, synthetic fibres and elastomers are examples of synthetic polymers. The ra& materials for the manufacture of synt!etic polymers are distillates of petroleum' *owever, most of them can be classified in at least three main categories: t!ermoplastics( )i res an" elastomers' T!ermoplastics

is a polymer which, when sub"ected to heat, becomes soft so they can be moulded into various shapes. the properties o) plastics are : lig!t( strong( inert to c!emicalssuch as acids and al ali and are insulators o) electricity an" !eat' examples of plastics are polyet!ylene #PE$( poly*inylc!lori"e #P+C$( polypropylene #PP$( polystyrene( Perspe, an" -a.elite' Synt!etic )i res are long chained polymers that withstand stretching. examples of synthetic fibres are nylon an" Terylene' Nylon is used to ma e ropes, fishing lines, stoc ing, clothing and parachutes. Terylene is used to ma e clothing, sleeping bags and fishing nets. Clothes made from Terylene do not crease easily. is a polymer that can regain its original shape after being stretched or pressed. both natural ru er an" synt!etic ru er are examples of elastomer' er # S-R $ examples of synthetic rubbers are neoprene and styrene / uta"iene ru )+, is used to ma e car tyres' The two types of polymerisation are: polymerisation by addition . polymerisation by condensation . !olymerisation by addition involves monomers with -C . C/ bonding, where the monomers "oin together to ma e a long chain without losing any simple molecules from it. Examples of polymers produced through this process are polythene, !0C perspex and other plastics.

Elastomer

!olymerisation by condensation involves the elimination of small molecules li e water, methanol, ammonia or hydrogen chloride during the process. Examples of products of this process are terylene and nylon(11.

SYNT%ETIC POLYMER 0 T%EIR USES IN 1AILY LI2E

Synthetic Polymer Neoprene Polyvinyl chloride or PVC (polychloroethene) Polyamide (nylon) Polypropene "eflon (polytetrafluoroethene or PTFE) Polyester Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) Polythene (polyethylene) Perspe% (polymethyl2-methyl propene) Polystyrene Uses Shoe soles, hoses, radiator hoses, wetsuits Raincoat, pipes, to insulate electric wires Parachutes, carpet, ropes, form-fittin s!iwear, hosiery Plastics, bottles, plastic tables and chairs "o ma!e non-stic! pots and pans #ilters, conveyor belts, sleepin ba insulation Soft drin! bottles, peanut butter $ars, salad dressin bottles Plastic ba s, containers and cups &eroplane window panes, lenses, car lamp covers Styrofoam' cups, rocery store meat trays, cafeteria trays

)ynthetic polymers have been used widely to replace natural materials such as metals, wood, cotton, animal s in and natural rubber because of the following advantages : )trong and light Cheap 2ble to resist corrosion 3nert to chemical reactions Easily moulded or shaped and becoloured

Can be made to have special properties

T%E E22ECT O2 T%E USES O2 SYNT%ESIS POLYMERS TO OUR EN+IRONMENT

The use of synthetic polymers, however results in environmental problems 4ost polymers are not io"egra"a le. !olymers cannot be decomposed biologically or naturally by bacteria or fungi as in the case of other garbage. Thus, the disposal of polymers has resulted in environmental pollution because they remain in the environment forever. 5iscarded plastic items may cause bloc age of drainage systems and rivers thus causing flash floods. !lastic containers and bottles strewn around become good breeding places for mos6uitoes which cause dengue fever, or malaria. )mall plastic items that are thrown into the rivers, la es and seas are somethings swallowed by a3uatic animals. These animals may die from c!o.ing. The open urning o) plastics gives rise to poisonous an" aci"ic gases li e carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide. These are harmful to the environment as they cause acid rain. +urning of plastics can also produce carbon dioxide, too much of this gas in the atmosphere leads to the 7green house effect8. The main source o) ra& materials for the ma ing of synthetic polymers is petroleum. !etroleum is a non / rene&a le resource. This problem can be overcome by the following ways: ,ecycling polymers: !lastics can be decomposed by heating them without oxygen at 9::;C. This process is called pyrolysis. The products of this process are then recycled into new products. 3nventing biodegradable polymers: )uch polymers should be mixed with substances that can be decomposed by bacteria #to become biodegradable' or light #to become photodegradable' .