POLYMERS

Polymers
• Greek polys, “many”, and meros, “parts”
• Molecular substances of high molecular mass formed by the
polymerization (joining together) of monomers, molecules with low
molecular mass
• Polymerization done through controlled chemical reactions
• Largely amorphous but some materials possess a degree of
crystallinity
Classification of Polymers (based on origin)
• Natural polymers – These are obtained from nature, e.g., plant origin,
animal origin etc. Biologically degradable polymers are also present,
called biopolymers.

Examples- Rubber, Cellulose, Starch, Proteins etc. They can be divided

into Polypeptides, Sugars, and Nucleic acids.

*Rubber from a liquid resin from the bark of Hevea brasiliensis

Classification of Polymers (based on origin)
• Synthetic polymers – These have been prepared by humans in
laboratories and are currently produced industrially.
❑Plastic – materials that can be formed into various shapes usually by
the application of heat and pressure; synthetic resins
❖Thermoplastic – can be reshaped (PET bottles, PVC)
❖Thermosetting plastic – cannot be reshaped readily; thermally
hardened and never become soft again (phenolic and melamine resin)

*Rubber from a polymer of isoprene, C5H8

Assignment: recycling polymeric bottles – number of times it can be recycled
POLYMERS
• Elastomer – material that exhibits rubbery or elastic behavior when
subjected to stretching or bending
• Copolymers – polymers formed from 2 different monomers
• Homopolymer – there is only one type of monomeric unit
Classification of Polymers (based on origin)
• Semi-synthetic polymers – These polymers are derived from natural
sources and undergo further chemical/physical treatment before
attaining their final form.
Example – Rayon (alternative silk from cellulose), Terylene (polyester
fibre, PET)
Addition Polymerization
• Involves sequential addition of monomers

*addition to an ethylene double bond *a ring-opening polymerization of a

sterically strained cyclic monomer
Condensation Polymerization
• Involves random reaction of two molecules (which are either a
monomer, oligomer, or higher-molecular-wt. intermediate each
having complementary functional end unit)
• liberates a small molecule in the form of a gas, water, or salt
*synthesis of nylon-6,6 from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine
Degree of Polymerization (DP)
• Number of monomeric units in a polymer
• This number of repeating units helps to determine physical and
chemical properties of a polymer and vary depending on the polymer
and its molecular weight.
Degree of Polymerization (DP)
 ENGINEERED
NANOMATERIALS
Nanomaterials
• Materials that have dimensions on the 1-100 nm scale – under
intense investigation in the research lab by scientists and engineers
• Nanoparticles can have different properties than the same bulk
materials (surface area, mobility, photoluminescence)
• Nanotechnology – the manipulation of matter and fabrication of
devices on the nanoscale
• Applications in imaging, electronics, medicine
Classification and Properties
• The main carbon-based nanoparticles – unique combinations of chemical
and physical properties (i.e., thermal and electrical conductivity, high
mechanical strength, and optical properties)
❑Fullerenes – “Carbon 60”; antioxidant; with action of light, may produce
reactive forms of oxygen that can kill bacteria and viruses; used as
lubricants, in data storage and medical applications
❑Carbon nanotubes - among the strongest materials on Earth; much
stronger and lighter than steel.
-look something like a roll of chicken wire. Depending on how the chicken
wire is rolled, carbon nanotubes
1. can conduct electricity (“metallic” carbon nanotubes)
2. act as semiconductors, or
3. not allow passage of electricity
 Carbon nanotubes

Applications:
• bicycle components,
tennis rackets, golf clubs,
and skis
• in aircraft and cars
• stab-proof and bulletproof
clothing
• paper batteries
• in solar cells

Metallic carbon nanotubes can carry 1000 times more electricity for their size than the copper wire in the walls of your house.
Classification and Properties
• Inorganic nanoparticles - prepared with inorganic
elements; extremely important in modern technologies; can be easily
and cheaply synthesized and mass produced, hence can also be more
readily integrated into applications

Example:
metal nanoparticles – superior optical properties - applications in
biomedical imaging and chemical detection
Halloysite clay nanotubes - aluminosillicate clay that forms as volcanic
feldspars weather – radio frequency
Classification and Properties
• Organic nanoparticles - prepared with organic polymers; of major
interest in material and life sciences
• Biopolymer nanoparticles –
✓simplicity of their preparation from well-understood biodegradable,
biocompatible polymers, and
✓their high stability in biological fluids during storage.
✓tested for potential in drug delivery systems
Ex: carbon nanothreads from burnt bamboo - yarn in sports wear, shoe
pads, and other textile
Manufacturing Processes of Nanoparticles
• The “ top-down ” approach involves the breaking down of large
pieces of material to generate the required nanostructures from
them. This method is particularly suitable for making interconnected
and integrated structures such as in electronic circuitry
Manufacturing Processes of Nanoparticles
• In the “ bottom-up ” approach, single atoms and molecules are
assembled into larger nanostructures. This is a very powerful method
of creating identical structures with atomic precision, although to
date, the man-made materials generated in this way are still much
simpler than nature’s complex structures.