Polyester

• What type of polymers are polyesters classified as?

  Condensation polymers
• What are polyesters made using?

  Ester links
• What is the process of forming polyesters from monomers?

  • Combine a dicarboxylic acid monomer (two carboxylic acid groups)
  • Combine with a diol monomer (two alcohol groups)
  • Remove OH from dicarboxylic acid and H from diol to form water
  • Form an ester link between the monomers
• What is a dimer in the context of polyesters?

  A molecule formed from two monomers
• What happens to the ends of the dimer to form a repeating unit?

  Remove OH and H from the ends
• Why do we use the letter n in the representation of condensation polymers?

  To represent the number of repeating units
• How many water molecules are formed per repeat unit in polyesters?

  Two water molecules
• What are the requirements for monomers to combine in condensation polymers?

  • Each monomer must have at least two functional groups
  • There must be at least two different functional groups overall
  • A small molecule, generally water, is released during the process
• What is a key characteristic of condensation polymers?

  They release a small molecule, usually water
• What is a significant environmental benefit of polyesters?

  They are generally biodegradable
• What are the monomers used to form poly ethyl ethanoate?

  Ethanediaric acid and ethanediol
• What is the significance of ester links in polyesters?

  • They are the bonds formed between the dicarboxylic acid and diol
  • They contribute to the polymer's structure
  • They allow for the breakdown of polyesters by microorganisms
• How do polyesters differ from addition polymers regarding biodegradability?

  Polyesters are biodegradable, while addition polymers are not