The World of Polymers and Plastics

DEAKIN University

Why is plastic so important?

What happens to recycled plastics and polymers?

Are there downsides to recycling?

What do you think of when you hear the word plastic?

Rayon Nylon Lycra

polyurethane
Teflon Styrofoam Saran

Plastics are polymers. What is a polymer? Polymers are large molecules made up of long chains of atoms covalently bonded together. Monomers (from mono meaning one and meros meaning unit) are the small molecules used to synthesize the polymeric chain, like a strand of paper clips.

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Polymers have been with us since the beginning of time. Natural polymers include such things as cellulose, starch, tar and shellac, tortoise shell and horns, as well as tree saps that produce amber and latex. These polymers were processed with heat and pressure into useful articles like hair ornaments and jewelry. Natural polymers began to be chemically modified during the 1800s to produce many materials. The most famous of these were vulcanized rubber, gun cotton, and celluloid.

The first semi-synthetic polymer produced was Bakelite in 1909 and was soon followed by the first synthetic fiber, rayon, which was developed in 1911.

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The polymers (poly means many) can be formed from the same type of monomer or from a combination of monomers:

(a) A representation of a monomer. (b) A representation of a polymer made of one monomer. (c) A representation of a polymer made of two different monomers. 9.1

Polymers are referred to as macromolecules because they involve thousands of atoms, and their molecular masses can reach over a million.
Many common classes of polymers are composed of hydrocarbons. Carbon makes up the backbone of the molecule and hydrogen atoms are bonded to the carbon atoms. Below is a diagram of polyethylene, the simplest polymer structure.
H C * H C H H H H C C H H H C * H

polyethylene

Other examples of polymers that contain only carbon and hydrogen include polypropylene, polybutylene, and polystyrene.

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In addition polymers, the monomers simply add to the growing polymer chain in such a way that the product contains all the atoms of the starting material.
H 2 H C C H H H C H H C H H C H H C H

ethylene monomer

addition product

As additional ethylene molecules join, the chain grows:

H C H C R H
+

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H

No other products are formed, and no atoms are eliminated.

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The overall process can be represented as:

H H H C H C H C H C H H

If one of the H atoms on ethylene is replaced with a Cl atom,

H H H C H C Cl C H C Cl H

the result is the formation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

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H H H C H C C H

H C

styrene monomer

The polystyrene foam used for Styrofoam cups is made by the same addition process.

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Formation of Polyethylene: Mechanism

A free-radical process, initiated by a catalyst

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Stretching or necking a plastic bag

(a) Pulling on a piece of PE

(b) Represents the molecular rearrangement as PE is stretched

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Branching alters the physical properties of PE

Branched chain Straight chain

Low density PE (LDPE) soft, stretchy, not too strong

High density PE (HDPE) greater rigidity, strength, higher mp

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There are over 60,000 synthetic polymers today. Here are 3 of the most common polymers known collectively as the Big Six:

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Three more polymers that make up the Big Six

How do we make sense of these representations? What makes one polymer different from another?

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One way to differentiate between polymers is to look at their functional groups distinctive arrangements of atoms that impart characteristic chemical properties to the molecules that contain them. 9.5

Condensation Polymers

Formation of PET

Examples Natural: starch, wool, silk, proteins Synthetic: nylon, kevlar, and ABS

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Composition of municipal solid waste:

100 billion pounds of plastic is produced in the U.S. each year- much of this ends up in landfills.

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Recycling

Example of closed loop recycling

Ever heard of aluminum dross?

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Recycling

Aluminum dross is a by-product of the primary and secondary aluminum industries None are on the EPAs Hazardous Materials List

White dross Black dross Salt cake

Scrap + white dross Al skimming tool

So in the U.S. it has been co-disposed along side of municipal solid waste for many years. Two Billion Tons are buried each year.

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Recycling: Al

Aluminum dross

Mount Rumke before

Mount Rumke after dross exposure to water

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Recycling: Al

Aluminum dross

The chemistry behind the troubles 2 Al + 6 H2O AlN + 3 H2O 2 Al(OH)3 + 3 H2 + heat Al(OH)3 + NH3

Fe2O3 (or sometimes Fe3O4) + Al Al2O3 + molten iron (Fe) + A LOT OF HEAT

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