05/09/2014

Home work Problems

The number-average molecular weight of a polypropylene is 1,000,000

g/mol. Compute the degree of polymerization.

Home work Problems

Also, what will be the PDI?

05/09/2014

Problem Solution
Mi (kg/mol)

xi

No. average

xiMi

xiMi=

Wi=xiMi/xiMi

g/mol
Weight avg.

Home work Problem

Molecular weight data for some unknown polymer are tabulated here.
Compute (a) the number-average molecular weight and (b) the weight
average molecular weight. (c) If it is known that this materials degree of
polymerization is 710, which among the following polymer it would be?

PTFE

PMMA

Polystyrene

Phenol formaldehyde

05/09/2014

Lec 06: Synthesis of Polymers:

Polymerization Reactions

The process of turning monomers into a polymer is called polymerization.

Synthesis processes are classified using two different systems: the first
according to the way in which the polymers grow, and the second according
to the mechanism by which the chemical reactions occur. In the first system,
synthesis processes are either chain growth or step growth.
In chain growth polymerization, an initiator molecule starts the reaction by
forming a radical which attacks the monomer. This is a fast process that
produces long chains soon after the reaction begins. A chain is terminated
when no more monomers are available or when the chain reacts with
another chain.
In step-growth polymerization, any monomer may react with any other, so
no initiator is required. Monomers first join to form short chains (dimers,
trimers), which start to combine into longer chains untill the supply of
monomers begins to run out. Step growth is slower than chain growth; the
process is terminated when all available monomers are used up.

Polymerization Reactions

The polymer is the only product of addition reactions. They often involve
free radicals i.e. chemical species having an un-paired electron.
Condensation reactions involve the loss of a small molecule such as H2O,
therefore, polymer is not the only product of the reaction.
Chain growth polymerisation usually occurs by an addition reaction, and
step growth polymerisation usually occurs by a condensation reaction.
However there may be exceptions.

Polymer growth mechanism

Chain growth

Chemical reaction mechanism

Addition reaction

Step growth

Condensation reaction

05/09/2014

Condensation Reaction:
Step-Growth Polymerisation

It is the formation of polymers by stepwise intermolecular chemical

reactions that may involve more than one monomer species. There is usually
a small molecular weight by-product (such as water) that is eliminated (or
condensed).
No reactant species has the chemical formula of the repeat unit, and the
intermolecular reaction occurs every time a repeat unit is formed.
A simple example is carboxylic acid and alcohol reaction, resulting in an
ester formation and liberation of water.

Step-Growth Polymerisation
polymerised to make
PET

The reaction between ethylene glycol and adipic acid is a step-wise

process that is successively repeated, producing a linear molecule. Both
ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid are bifunctional. However,
condensation reactions can include trifunctional or higher functional
monomers capable of forming crosslinked and network polymers.
The thermosetting polyesters (PET) and phenol-formaldehyde,
polyurethanes, the nylons, and the polycarbonates are produced by
condensation polymerization.

05/09/2014

PET

Polyesters by Step-growth
Polymerization