Polymers Flashcards
Addition polymerisation
Made up of thousand of repeat units of monomers
Unsaturated alkenes, form long alkane chains
High molecular mass
Prefixed by poly
Heat and pressure
Polythene
Ethane monomers
Supermarket bags, shampoo bottles, toys
Polychloroethene
Polyvinylchloride
Pipes, films, sheeting, insulation and cable sheathing
Polypropene
Children’s toys, packing crates, rope fibre
Polyphenylethene/ polystyrene
Packing supplies, food trays, cups, thermal insulating properties
Tetrafluoroethane
Teflon pans
Clothing
Shoes
Identify monomers from polymer chains
Identify repeat unit, change single C to double C
Disposal of waste polymers
Lack of reactivity, non biodegradable
Kills marine life
Recycling
Reduces environmental impact, conserve fossil fuels, decrease landfill
Polymers organised by type
Chopped into flakes, washed, dried, melted
Pellets make new products
PVC recycling
Hazardous, high chlorine, additives in polymer
When burnt, HCl gas released, other pollutants released
Solvents can dissolve PVC, recovered by precipitation from solvent, reused
Waste polymers as fuel
Derived from petroleum/ natural gas, high energy content
Incinerated, producing heat, generate steam to drive turbines. Produce electricity
Feedstock recycling
Chemical, thermal process that reclaims monomers, gas, oil from waste polymers
Raw materials produce new polymers
Can handle unsorted, unwashed polymers
Bio plastics
Produced from plant starch, cellulose, plant oil, proteins
Protects environment, conserve oil reserves
Biodegradable polymers
Broken down by microorganisms into water, CO2, other compounds
Made from starch, cellulose, additives that alter polymer structure
Compostable polymers degrade
Based on polylactic acid
Starch bin liners can be composted with waste
Photodegradable polymers
Oil based polymer
Has bonds, weakened by absorption of light to start degradation
Light absorbing additives sometimes used
