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 NATURALLY OCCURRING POLYMERS

 Eg : in muscle, skin, silk,  Eg : in starch and  Eg : in latex

hairs, wool and furs cellulose  Monomer – isoprene (2-
 Monomer – amino acid  Monomer - glucose methylbuta-1,3-diene)
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SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

Synthetic polymers are polymers made in industry from chemical substances.

Many of the raw materials for synthetic polymers are obtained from petroleum, after refining and
cracking process.

P lastic
 SYNTHETIC POLYMER
Polyethylene (PE)
IUPAC name : polythene
Polypropylene (PP)
IUPAC name : polypropene
Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
IUPAC name : polychloroethene
Polystyrene (PS)
IUPAC name : polyphenylethene
Perspex (PP)
IUPAC name : poly
(methyl-2-methylpropenoate)
Teflon (PTFE)
IUPAC name : polytetrafluoroethene
Terylene
Nylon
Some examples of synthetic polymers, their monomer and uses
MONOMER USES
Ethane, C₂H₄ Plastic bags, shopping bags, plastic
containers, plastic toys, plastic
cups and plates.
Propene, C₃H₆ Plastic bottles, bottle crates,
plastic tables and chairs, car
battery cases and ropes.
Chloroethene, C₂H₃Cl Water pipe, shoes, bags, rain
clothes, artificial leather and wire
casing.
Phenylethene, C₆H₅CH = CH₂ Packaging materials, heat
insulators, toys, disposable cups
and plates.
Methyl-2-methyl propenoate Safety glass, airplane windows, car
(methylmetacrylate) lamps, traffic signs, lens, reflectors
CH₂ = C(CH₃)CO₂CH₃ and toys.
Tetrafluoroethene, C₂F₄ Coatings for non-stick frying pans
and electrical insulators.
Hexane-1, 6-diol and benzene- Clothing, aleeping bags, sails,
1, 4-dicarboxylic acid ropes and fishing net.
Hexane-1, 6-diamine and Ropes, fishing lines, stocking,
hexane-1, 6-dioic acid clothing, carpets, and parachutes.
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USE OF SYNTHETIC POLYMERS IN
DAILY LIFE

Synthetic
polymers
 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CAUSED
BY THE DISPOSAL OF SYNTHETIC
POLYMERS

 Most polymers are non-biodegradable, that is they will not decay like other organic garbage.
 Water pollution will cause when :
- plastic stop the flow of river water and drains. This will cause flash floods.
- plastic also cause the death of marine organism if they mistaken the plastic as food.
 Plastic bottles and containers that are not buried in the ground will become breeding grounds for
mosquitoes that cause diseases like dengue.
 Air pollution will cause when open burning of polymers release harmful and poisonous gases. For
example, the burning of PVC will release hydrogen chloride gas which contributes to the acid rain
problem.
 METHODS TO OVERCOME
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF
POLYMERS

 Reduce, reuse and recycle synthetic polymers :

i. Reduce the use of non-biodegradable polymers.
ii. Polymers are collected and reused or reprocessed to make new items. The biggest problem is
the collection and separation. Not only must the plastics be separated from other types of solid
waste, but the different types of polymers must be separated from each other.
 Develop biodegradable polymers : these polymers can be decomposed by bacteria, other micro-
organisms or simply by sunlight (photodegradable). One type of biodegradable polymer was developed
by incorporating starch molecules into the plastic materials so that they can be decomposed by bacteria.
However, biodegradable polymers are usually more expensive.