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TOPIC 13. Plastics. Plastics. A plastic is a substance which can be shaped or moulded. The Raw Material for plastics is Crude Oil. Plastics are types of polymers. Polymerisation.
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TOPIC 13 Plastics
Plastics • A plastic is a substance which can be shaped or moulded. • The Raw Material for plastics is Crude Oil. • Plastics are types of polymers.
Polymerisation • Polymers are long chain molecules made up by many small individual building blocks,called Monomers, joining together. Monomers Polymer Molecule
Addition Polymers For an Addition Polymer to be formed the monomers must have a C=C double bond. Examples: Polythene: Made from many ethene molecules joining together. CH2=CH2 + CH2=CH2+ CH2=CH2 (ethene) (Polythene) -(CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2)n-
Other examples of Monomers • Polychloroethene (better known as PVC, polyvinyl chloride) CH2=CHCl Polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE) i.e. Teflon CF2=CF2 Polyphenylethene (polystyrene) CH2=CHC6H5
Recycling Plastics • Plastics can be difficult to Recycle. • Some plastics can be melted and reshaped, however others can’t. • Plastics are said to be Non-Biodegradable ie. They cannot be broken down by Bacteria in the soil. • Plastics can give off poisonous fumes such as CO, HCN and HCl when burned.
Effect of Heat on Polymers • Polymers that soften on heating are called Thermoplastic. Examples are Polythene, PVC, polypropene etc. • Some polymers are largely unaffected by heating / do not soften on heating. These are known as Thermosetting Polymers. Their Structure is such that they contain Cross-Links between the long polymer chains. Examples are Bakelite and Mica.