From models to materials - condensation polymers Flashcards
What is condensation polymerisation?
Condensation polymerisation is a reaction whereby a polymer is produced by repeated condensation reactions between monomers.
Natural condensation polymers are formed by the elimination of water.
What type of links are used to identify condensation polymers?
Condensation polymers are identified by ester or amide links.
The monomers are linked through these types of bonds.
List the types of monomers that can form condensation polymers.
- Dicarboxylic acids and diols
- Hydroxycarboxylic acids
- Dicarboxylic acids and diamines
- Amino acids
What is polyester?
Polyester is a polymer formed by the condensation polymerisation of dicarboxylic acid monomers and diol monomers.
A polyester is produced by linking these monomers with ester bonds.
What is required to form a polyester?
A diol and a dicarboxylic acid are required to form a polyester.
A diol contains two alcohol –OH groups, and a dicarboxylic acid contains two carboxylic acid –COOH groups.
What happens during the formation of a polyester?
One of the diol –OH groups and a hydrogen atom from one of the carboxylic acid –COOH groups are eliminated as a water molecule (H2O).
This results in the formation of a polyester.
Give an example of a polyester.
An example of a polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET.
What are hydroxycarboxylic acids?
Hydroxycarboxylic acids are monomers that contain both an alcohol –OH group and a carboxylic acid –COOH group.
They can be used to form polyesters.
What are polyamides?
Polyamides are polymers where the repeating units are bonded together by amide links.
The formula of an amide group is –CONH.
What monomers are required to form a polyamide?
A diamine and a dicarboxylic acid are required to form a polyamide.
A diamine contains 2 –NH2 groups, and a dicarboxylic acid contains 2 –COOH groups.
What is a dioyl chloride?
A dioyl chloride is a more reactive monomer that contains 2 –COCl groups and can react with diamines instead of dicarboxylic acids.
Dioyl chlorides are more expensive than dicarboxylic acids.
What is a major advantage of polyesters and polyamides?
Both polyesters and polyamides can be broken down using hydrolysis reactions.
This is an advantage over addition polymers produced using alkene monomers.
How are polyesters and polyamides broken down?
They can be broken down during digestion and decomposition.
Hydrolysis reactions are controlled by enzymes.
