polymers

• to change a properties of a polymer, you could change the temp, pressure or catalyst
• what are thermosoftening polymers?

  Polymers that can be melted and reshaped. and return to a solid when cooled
• structure of thermosoftening polymers: heat

  • polymers held by intermolecular forces
  • if polymer is heated the intermolecular forces break
  • the polymer strands can separate from eachother and the polymer melts
• structure of thermosoftening polymers: cool

  • if cooled, we reform the intermolecular forces
  • polymer goes back to a solid
• what are thermosetting polymers?

  dont melt when heated
• structure of thermosetting polymers:

  • polymer chains are connect to each other by strong crosslinks
  • strong crosslinks arent broken by heat = thermosetting polymes dont melt