Condensation Polymers

• Condensation polymers - polymers formed by the condensation of monomers (releases H2O and HCl sometimes)
• Two types of condensation polymers:

  • Polyesters (diol and dicarboxylic acid/diacyl chloride)
  • Polyamides (diol and dicarboxylic acid/diacyl chloride)
• Terylene uses:

  • Carpets
  • Clothing
  • Used for drink bottles (heat treated polyesters)
• Nylon uses:

  • Clothing fibres
  • Properties: Elastic, strong abrasion resistant
• Kevlar uses:

  • Body armour or crash helmets
  • Properties: Strong, light, heat resistant
• Advantages of recycling:

  • Reduces landfills
  • Saves raw materials
• Disadvantages of recycling:

  • Cost of processing
  • Product not suitable for original purpose
• Why polyesters are biodegradable but polyalkenes are not:

  • Polyesters have polar bonds (C=O) and polyalkenes do not have polar bonds (C-C)
  • Polyesters are susceptible to nucleophilic attack
• Kevlar has hydrogen bonding between polymer chains
• poly(alkenes) are not hydrolysed by heating with concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide
• Why plastic in a landfill will take longer to break down:

  • No air or UV in a landfill to assist decay