Polymers Flashcards
4 polymeric features
- never in gaseous state
- 1st stage of dissolution is swelling
- higher viscosity than low mwt compounds of the same conc
- at certain conditions they can show elasticity and reversible deformations
What are the main differences between polymers and small molecules
1- aggregate state- small molecules exist in 3 states solid liquid and gas but polymers are composed of large macromolecules and so only exist in 2 aggregate states- solid and liquid - no gas - too large to evaporate
2- dissolution- small molecules dissolve quickly in water, polymers swell and form a gel then dissolve
3- viscosity - with polymers the liquid will flow slowly as it is viscous - more viscous than small molecules at the same conditions and conc
4- mechanical properties- if you apply force to small molecules they will break but with polymers they can experience reversible deformations so go back to original shape
How do we get from a small molecule to a polymer ?
Addition of molecules / repeat units together - increasing the mwt - turn into a polymer when they no longer change physical properties with each addition of a repeating unit - but below that specific mwt for a polymer they would still be an oligomer
Equation for molecular weight of polymer
Mwt = molecular weight of repeating unit X degree of polymerisation
Polydispersity index
Weight average and number average - can calculate the polydispersity index to show the mwt distribution in a sample
Mw / Mn
Different configurations a polymer (homopolymer) can take
Linear Dendrimer Ladder Star Branched Cross linked
What are the types of confirmations of co polymers?
Statistical (random)
Alternating co polymers
Block co polymers
Graft co polymers
2 types of synthetic polymers
Thermoplastic - eg polyethylene - material that’s plastic/deformable, melts into a liquid when heated and freezes to a brittle glassy state when cooled
Thermosetting plastics - phenolformaldehyde thermosets polymers that cure through addition of energy to a stronger form
What is the crystalline state?
Highly ordered array of molecules & atoms
Anisotropic properties eg depends on direction
Definite MP
What is the amorphous state ?
Randomly orientated molecules and atoms
Isotopic properties eg doesn’t depend on direction
No definite mp
(Some properties of it are typical of liquids but would flow slower)
After evaporation of water - what is left from-
Solution of Kcl which is an inorganic low molecular weight salt
Solution of chitosan polymer
Kcl low mwt - would have crystals - solid left after crystallisation which depends on the nature of the material
Chitosan polymer - films form !!
What are the degree of crystallinity ranges and what does it depend on
0% amorphous
<90% crystalline
Depends on chemical structure- temp, mwt , processing conditions
Can’t really get 100% crystallinity just degrees of it
What are the 3 physical states of amorphous polymers
Glassy state
Rubbery state (soft) -
Liquid state
Elongation occurs as transition to these states
What happens in the rubbery state to a polymer
Can stretch so undergo reversible deformations
Different polymers have different glass transition temps depending on structures - polyethylene has a tg of -120 C ; what does this tell us about the material ?
At around room temp it will be a soft material (rubbery state) because this temp is higher than the glass transition temp
Define Tg
Temp at which polymers will change from hard (glassy) to soft (rubbery)