(4.48C-4.50C) Condensation Polymerisation

What are some examples of condensation polymers?

Polyesters

Nylon

How do c.polymers differ from a.polymers?

condensation polymerisation has:

2 reactants:

diol + dicarboxylic acid

2 products:

polymer (polyester) + small molecule (H₂O)

(per linkage)

Describe the functional groups of the reacting monomers.

Each reactant has two functional groups,

one on each end

How does the polymer form?

The functional group on one end of the monomer

react with the functional group on the end of the other monomer

creating a long chain of alternating monomers

forming a polymer.

Each ester linkage produces water by linking

one H and one O-H.

This leave a free bond at either end of the new repeat unit.

Describe how to deduce the monomers when given the polymers.

split the C—O single bond

insert the removed O-H and H into the two monomers

How is a condensation polymerisation equation written?

‘n’ in front of monomers

form polymer with subscript n

and 2n water molecules

What are biopolyesters?

a specific type of polymer

made from corn starch → lactic acid → PLA

(polylactic acid)

How are biopolyesters disposed of?

they can naturally biodegrade

because PLA is biodegradable