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Polymers. Professor: Michael Eastman Ph.D. Assistant: David Chavez-Flores. Polymer. Polymers are made up of many many molecules all strung together to form really long chains. Poly- means "many" and -mer means "part" or "segment". . Polymers: Introduction.
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Polymers Professor: Michael Eastman Ph.D. Assistant: David Chavez-Flores
Polymer • Polymers are made up of many many molecules all strung together to form really long chains. • Poly- means "many" and -mer means "part" or "segment".
Polymers: Introduction • Polymer: High molecular weight molecule made up of a small repeat unit (monomer). • Homopolymer • A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A • Monomer: Low molecular weight compound that can be connected together to give a polymer • Oligomer: Short polymer chain • Copolymer: polymer made up of 2 or more monomers • Random copolymer: A-B-B-A-A-B-A-B-A-B-B-B-A-A-B • Alternating copolymer: A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B • Block copolymer: A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B
Types of Polymers • Polymer Classifications • Thermoset: cross-linked polymer that cannot be melted (tires, rubber bands) • Thermoplastic: Meltable plastic • Elastomers: Polymers that stretch and then return to their original form: often thermoset polymers • Thermoplastic elastomers: Elastic polymers that can be melted (soles of tennis shoes) • Polymer Families • Polyolefins: made from olefin (alkene) monomers • Polyesters, Amides, Urethanes, etc.: monomers linked by ester, amide, urethane or other functional groups • Natural Polymers: Polysaccharides, DNA, proteins
Making polyvinyl acetate • Monomer - Vinyl Acetate • Solvent - Water • Initiator –Potassium Persulfate http://modules.utep.edu/Modules/polymer/Vinyl%20Acetate%20to%20PVAc/VA%20to%20PVAc.htm
Initiator Bond brakes homolytically
Procedure • Place the exact amount of every reagent in a round bottom flask. http://modules.utep.edu/Modules/polymer/Vinyl%20Acetate%20to%20PVAc/VA%20to%20PVAc.htm • Vinyl Acetate 10 ml • Potassium Persulfate 0.1 g • Water 10 ml
Nylon • Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides and first produced on February 28, 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont . Nylon is one of the most commonly used polymers • Was used to replace Asian silk and hemp with nylon in parachutes in the World war II. • Was also used to make tires, tents, ropes, ponchos, and other military supplies
Reaction Video Carleton Professor bob Burk from University, Ottawa, Canada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y479OXBzCBQ
Demonstrations • Making a rubber ball • http://modules.utep.edu/Modules/polymer/Rubber%20Balls/Rubber%20Balls.htm • Diaper polymer • Teflon • Plastic bag • Carbon fiber video http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4muy0_zoom-into-a-carbon-fiber_tech
Science goals • Produce more application-specific polymers • Produce biodegradable polymers • Dispose correctly of the polymers • Recycle the existing polymers
Questions • Is cotton a synthetic or natural polymer?
What kind of polymer is the white glue? • Homopolymer • Alternating copolymer • Block copolymer • Random copolymer • Besides of the monomer what else do you need to start a polymerization reaction? (a) A radical (b) An atom (c) Water
Thank You • David Chavez • dchavez3@miners.utep.edu • 915-747-5849