Polymers

Question 1

What do the properties of a polymer depend on?

Answer 1

What they are made from

Conditions under which they are made

Question 2

What are the 2 differences in production between low density and high density polyethene?

Answer 2

Different catalysts

Different reaction conditions

Question 3

What do thermosoftening polymers consist of?

Answer 3

Individual, tangled polymer chains

Question 4

What do thermosetting polymers consist of?

Answer 4

Polymer chains with cross-links between them so they don’t melt when they are heated

Question 5

Why are thermosoftening plastics flexible and melt when heated?

Answer 5

They have weak intermolecular forces between the polymer chains so they can slide over each other easily

Question 6

Why are thermosetting plastics rigid and won’t melt when heated?

Answer 6

There are strong intermolecular forces (cross links) between the polymer chains