Synthetic Polymers

DR. MUHAMMAD SAID,

M.T.
CHEMISTRY
DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE AND
MATHEMATICS FACULTY
SRIWIJAYA UNIVERSITY

Polymers are large molecules made up

of many smaller and identical repeating
units joined together by covalent bonds .
These molecules are called monomers .
Polymerisation is the chemical process
by which the monomers are joined
together to form a big molecule known
as a polymer .
A polymer is a macromolecules (a very
big molecules) . Hence , the relative
molecular mass of a polymer is large .
The properties of a polymer are different
from its monomers .

POLYMERS CAN DIVIDED

INTO 2 TYPES:
a) Naturally occurring polymers
Polymers that exists in living
things in nature (plants and
animals)
b) Synthetic polymer
Polymers that are man-made
by chemical processes in the
laboratories.

NATURALLY OCCURRING POLYMERS

1) Naturally occurring polymers exist in plants or
animals.
2) Examples of naturally occurring polymers are
a)
b)
c)

Protein : in muscles,skin,silk,hair,wool and fur

Carbohydrates : in starch and cellulose.
Natural rubber : in latex.

3) Protein is formed by the polymerisation of monomers

known as amino acids.
amino acids

(monomers)

polymerisation

protein
(polymers)

4.Carbohydrates such as starch and

cellulose consist of monomers known as
glucose joined together chemically
glucose

polymerisation

(monomers)

carbohydrates
(polymers)

5.Natural rubber found in latex consist of

monomers known as isoprene (2methylbuta-1,3-diene) joined together
chemically.
H
CH H H
H CH H H
3

3
3

nC= C- C=C
n

isoprene(monomer)

-CC=CCH

natural rubber (polymer)

SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
1. Synthetic polymers are polymers made in the
industry from chemical substances.
2. Through scientific research , scientist are able to
copy the structures of natural polymers to
produce synthetic polymers.
3. Many of the raw materials for synthetic polymers
are obtained from petroleum , after the refining
and cracking processes.
4. The types of synthetic polymers include
a) Plastics
b) Fibre
c) Elastomers

SYNTHETIC FIBRE

ELASTOMER
1. An elastomer is a polymer that can regain its original
shape after being stretched or pressed.
2. Both natural rubber and synthetic rubber are
examples of elastomers.
3. Examples of synthetic rubber are neoprene and
styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).
4. SBR is used to make car tyres.
5. There are two types of polymerisation processes:

Addition polymerisation
Condensation polymerisation

6. Plastics such as polythene and PVC are produced by

addition polymerisation,whereas synthetic fibres such
as nylon and Terylene are made by condensation
polymerisation

PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS

POLLUTION PROBLEM CAUSED BY

SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
1. Most polymers are non-biodegradable,that is they
cannot be decomposed by bacteria or other
microorganisms. This will cause disposal problems as
the polymers will not decay like other organic
garbage.
2. Dicarded plastic items may cause blockage of
drainage systems and rivers thus causing flash floods.
3. Plastic bottles and containers that are not buried in
the ground will become breeding grounds for
mosquitoes which will cause diseases such as dengue.

4. Small plastic items that are thrown into the

rivers,lakes and seas are sometimes swallowed by
aquatic animals. These animals may die from choking.
5. The open burning of polymers may release harmful
and poisonous gases that will cause air pollution. For
example,the burning of PVC will release hydrogen
chloride gas which contributes to the acid rain
problem. The burning of some polymers will release
toxic gas such as hydrogen cyanide.
6. The main source of raw materials for the making of
synthetic polymers is petroleum. Petroleum is a nonrenewable resource.

METHODS TO OVERCOME ENVIRONMENTAL

PROBLEMS OF POLYMERS
REDUCE,REUSE AND RECYCLE SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
1. Reduce the use of non-biodegradable polymers.
2. Polymers are collected and reused or reprocessed to
make new items. The biggest problem is the collection
and separation. Not only must the plastic be separated
form other types of solid waste but the different type of
polymers must be separated from each other.
. DEVELOP BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
.The polymers can be decomposed by bacteria,other
microorganisms or simply by sunlight (photodegradable).
One type of biodegradable polymer was developed by
incorporating starch molecules into the plastic materials
so that they can be decomposed by bacteria. However,
biodegradable polymers are usually more expensive.