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3.3.12 Polymers (Biodegradability (polyalkenes (non-biodegradable, alkanes…
3.3.12 Polymers
Biodegradability
polyalkenes
non-biodegradable
alkanes are chemically inert as they only have strong non-polar C-H and C-C bonds
disposed in landfill sites, or incinerated, or melted down and remoulded
nothing in natural environment to break them down
can be burnt to carbon dioxide and water; add to global warming; poisonous carbon monoxide may be released
addition polymer
polystyrenes
addition polymers
non-biodegradable
may release toxic products when burning
combustion would produce carbon dioxide and water; however polymer may depolymerise to produce toxic styrene vapout
condensation polymers
e.g. polyesters and polyamides
broken down by hydrolysis (water is needed)
potentially biodegradable
recycling:
advantages: don't end up in landfill sites; don't need to extract more crude oil with is a non-renewable resource
disadvantages: can only be done a number of times before the polymer chains break down and shorten; need to be collected and sorted and transported which takes up a lot of energy and is expensive
Condensation polymers:
two different monomers with two functional groups react together and a small molecule e.g. water or HCl is eliminated
polyesters:
ester linkage -COO-
dicarboxylic acids (2 x -COOH) + diols (2 x -OH)
water is eliminated
Terylene is made from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid + ethane-1,2-diol
polyamides:
amide linkage -CONH-
diamines (2 x --NH₂) + dicarboxylic acids (2 x -COOH)
water is eliminated
Nylon-6,6 is made from 1,6-diaminohexane + hexane-1,6-dicarboxylic acid (if diacid is used instead of dicarboxylic acid to make it faster, then HCl is eliminated)
Nylon-6,10 is made from 1,6-diaminohexane + decane-1,10-dicarboxylic acid
Kevlar is made from benzene-1,4-diamine + benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid;
strong due to rigid chains and flat aromatic rings pack together held by strong intermolecular forces; bullet-proof vests, driving helmets
polypeptides:
each amino acid monomer has an amine group and a carboxylic acid group
water is eliminated
Sammer Sheikh