addition polymers

• addition polymerisation: monomers join together to form a polymer chain with high pressure and a suitable catalyst
• polymer includes bracket and n when drawing
• repeating untit doesnt include brackets and n when drawing
• polyethene uses

  • washing up bowls
  • plastic bags
• polymethylthene/polypropylene uses

  • rope
• polychloroethene/PVC uses

  • window frames
  • vinyl records
• polyethanenitrile/acrylic fibre uses

  • clothing
• poly(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane)/teflon uses

  • non stick coating on pans
• adding plasticisers to plastics makes them more flexible and softer
• plasticisers: Small molecules that get between polymer chains to force them apart and allow them to slide over one another
• an example of a plasticiser: phthalates
• phthalates if ingested can can mimic hormones and can cause cancer
• Unplasticised PVC:

  structure- rigid as every 2nd carbon has a Cl therefore it has a regular arrangement of dipole-dipole forces
• plasticised PVC:

  structure- flexible as it has interrupted dipole-dipole forces which are interrupted by plasticiser
• properties of addition polymers:

  • saturated
  • unreactive
  • non degradable
• why are addition polymers inert?

  strong non polar bonds between C and C bonds or C and H bonds
• polyethene chains are held together by weak van der waal imf making them too weak to use in textiles etc
• addition polymers end up:

  • in landfill
  • recycled
  • or incinerated for fuel, which gives of toxic gases