Plastics and Polymers

Plastics and Polymers

1. Plastics

   • Most are Man-made
     • Synthetic Plastics
     • Made from
       • Crude oil
         • When refined gasses are given off
           • Broken down into monomers
             • Chemical substances consisting of a single molecule
               • Thousands are linked together in a process called Polymerisation to form new compounds called POLYMERS
       • Natural Gases
   • Taken place of metal and wood
   • Differ from other materials due to size of molecules
   • Plastics contain thousands of molecules
     • Macromolecules
   • Some are derived from natural substances
     • Made from
       • Animals
       • Insects
       • Plants

2. Polymers

   • Meaning many monomers
     • Also known as Macromolecules or Large-Sized Molecules
   • Usually organic but not necessarily
   • Can be made up of thousands of monomers
   • Polymerisation
     • Chemical Process
     • Combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound
       • With the aid of a catalyst to start the reaction

3. A Monomer in a molecule that is able to bond in long chains

4. Polyethylene

   • Most popular in the world
   • Uses
     • Grocery bags
     • Shampoo bottles
     • Toys
     • Bullet proof vests
   • Properties
     • Simple Structure
       • Long chain of carbon atoms with 2 hydrogen atoms attached to each carbon atom
     • Versatile