Polymers

Question 1

What does biodegradable mean?

Answer 1

If a product is able to be broken down by micro-organisms

Question 2

Why are plastics not biodegradable?

Answer 2

The C-C bond is not reactive.
The bonds are non-polar and not susceptible to attacks by nucleophiles or enzymes.
The bonds cannot be hydrolysed.

Question 3

How does a plasticiser work?

Answer 3

Plasticisers are small molecules that are added to the polymer mix that decrease the stiffness of a polymer.

The plasticiser gets in between the polymer chain and keeps them further apart which reduces the intermolecular forces of attraction between them, making the material more flexible.

Question 4

How does mechanical recycling work?

Answer 4

• Sort plastics
• Break down into pellets
• Melted then remoulded

Question 5

How does feedstock recycling work?

Answer 5

• Break down polymers into monomers by heating
• Use monomers to make new polymers