Professional Documents
Culture Documents
acknowledgement
First of all, I am immensely indebted to almighty god for
his blessing and grace without which I could not have
been a success.
I humbly consider a privilege and honor to
express my heartiest and profound gratitude to Mr.
Rajendra.S.Malwal, principal BIPS, Patan. For his
appropriate direction, valuable suggestion, under judging
assistance so generously extended to me.
I wish to express my deepest feelings of
gratitude to Mr. Nabakishor sorokhaibam, chemistry
department, BIPS Patan. For his erudite involvement and
sustained guidance which has been pivotal in my project
work. His minute observation, precious insights, critical
comments have indeed greatly helped to shape my ideas.
This guidance and support received form my entire
classmates who contributed and who are contributing to
this project, is vital for the success of this project. I am
grateful for their constant support and help. I also owe
sense of gratitude to my parents for encouragement and
support throughout the project.
- Yash Patel
CONTENTS
1. Polymer
2. Polymer science
3. Historical development
4. Laboratory synthesis
5. Mechanical properties
Introduction
While the term polymer in popular usage suggests "plastic",
polymers comprise a large class of natural and synthetic
materials with a variety of properties and purposes. Natural
polymer materials such as shellac and amber have been in use
for centuries. Paper is manufactured from cellulose, a naturally
occurring polysaccharide found in plants. Biopolymers such as
proteins and nucleic acids play important roles in biological
processes.
Polymer science
Most polymer research may be categorized as polymer
science, a sub-discipline of materials science which
includes researchers in chemistry (especially organic
chemistry), physics, and engineering. The field of polymer
science includes both experimental and theoretical
research. The IUPAC recommends that polymer science
be roughly divided into two subdisciplines: polymer
chemistry (or macromolecular chemistry) and polymer
physics. In practice the distinction between the two is
rarely clearcut.
Historical development
Starting in 1811, Henri Braconnot did pioneering work in
derivative cellulose compounds, perhaps the earliest important
work in polymer science. The development of vulcanization later
in the nineteenth century improved the durability of the natural
polymer rubber, signifying the first popularized semi-synthetic
polymer. In 1907, Leo Baekeland created the first completely
synthetic polymer, Bakelite, by reacting phenol and formaldehyde
at precisely controlled temperature and pressure. Bakelite was
then publicly introduced in 1909.
Despite significant advances in synthesis and characterization of
polymers, a correct understanding of polymer molecular structure
did not emerge until the 1920s. Before then, scientists believed
that polymers were clusters of small molecules (called colloids),
without definite molecular weights, held together by an unknown
force, a concept known as association theory. In 1922, Hermann
Staudinger proposed that polymers consisted of long chains of
atoms held together by covalent bonds, an idea which did not
gain wide acceptance for over a decade and for which Staudinger
was ultimately awarded the Nobel Prize. Work by Wallace
Carothers in the 1920s also demonstrated that polymers could be
synthesized rationally from their constituent monomers. An
important contribution to synthetic polymer science was made by
the Italian chemist Giulio Natta and the German chemist Karl
Ziegler, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 for the
development of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
Laboratory synthesis
Laboratory synthetic methods are generally divided into two categories,
step-growth polymerization and chain-growth polymerization. The essential
difference between the two is that in chain growth polymerization,
monomers are added to the chain one at a time only, whereas in step-growth
polymerization chains of monomers may combine with one another directly.
However, some newer methods such as plasma polymerization do not fit
neatly into either category. Synthetic polymerization reactions may be
carried out with or without a catalyst. Laboratory synthesis of biopolymers,
especially of proteins, is an area of intensive research.
Biological synthesis
Microstructure of part of a DNA double helixbiopolymer
Main article: Biopolymer
Mechanical properties
Safety Precautions
Wear safety goggles at all times in the laboratory.
The materials in this experiment are considered toxic. They are
irritants to the eyes and mucous membranes. Wear gloves and work in
a well ventilated area.
Materials needed
Hexamethylenediamine (1,6-hexanediamine), 5% aqueous
solutionSebacoyl chloride (or adipyl chloride), 5% solution in
cyclohexane Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, 20% aqueous
solution
Beaker, 50 mL
Forceps
Stirring rod.
Procedure
Pour 10 mL of Hexamethylenediamine solution into a 50 mL
beaker.
Add 10 drops of 20% sodium hydroxide solution. Stir.
Carefully add 10 mL of sebacoyl chloride solution by
pouring it down the wall of the tilted beaker. Two layers
should be evident in the beaker and there should be an
immediate.
SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, A Copolymer
Superabsorbants were originally developed by the United States
Department of Agriculture in 1966. This material consisted of a
grafted copolymer of hydrolyzed starch-polyacrylonitrile
(polyacrylonitrile is commonly known asAcrilan, Orion, or
Creslan). The intended use was for additives for drilling fluid in
off-shore secondary oil recovery operations and as agricultural
thickeners. These materials were followed by synthetic
Superabsorbants that arepolyacrylic and polyacrylonitrile based.
Some of these materials are capable of absorbing up to 2000
times their weight of distilled water.
When a starch-hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile superabsorbent is
mixed with glycerin or ethylene glycol, the resulting firm gel has
a rubbery texture and is very strong and resilient. This material
can absorb about 300 to 400 times its weight in distilled water
and can grow many times its original size. This material was
formed into various shapes and sold under names such as
"Grow Creatures". The process is reversible and, on standing in
air, the grow creature will shrink almost to its original size on
drying. It can be grown and dried many times.
A useful application of "Super Slurper" is in the liners of
Pampers and other disposable diapers. Under this application,
the polymer gel can absorb up to 90 times its weight in liquid.
Super-absorbent material, sold under the name "Water Grabber"
or "Water Lock" is available from garden supply stores.
Polymer degradation
Product failure
Chlorine attack of acetyl resin plumbing joint