Topic 17 - Condensation polymers

Monomer

Small molecule that is joined together to make a polymer (becoming the repeating unit)

Polymer

Large molecule formed by joining together lots of repeating units (monomers)

How to make a polyester

• Diacic + diol

• Diacyl chloride + diol

How to make a polymamide:

• dicarboxylic acid + diamine (or sub the dicarboxyloic acid with a diacyl chloride)

Advantages of using polymers:

• strong

• Flexible

• Cheap to produce

• Reusable / recyclable

• Easy to mass produce

• Light-weight

• Can be moulded into different shapes

Problems with using polymers:

• non-biodegradable

• Non-renewable / finite resource - as monomers are made from crude oil

• If incinerated, release toxic fumes

• Monomers used may be toxic

• Not all plastics are recyclable