How are polymers classified on the basis of their structure?

Classification Based on Structure of Polymers:

• Linear Polymers 
• Branched Polymers 
• Cross-linked Polymers

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Vulcanization

Vulcanization

Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting natural rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent curatives or accelerators. These additives modify the polymer by forming cross-links (bridges) between individual polymer chains.

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What is Thermosetting and Thermoplastic?

Thermosetting

A thermosetting polymer (or plastic), also known as a thermoset, is a prepolymer material that cures irreversibly. The cure may be induced by heat, generally above 200 °C (392 °F), through a chemical reaction, or suitable irradiation.

Examples:

• Epoxy Resin
• Melamine Forlamdehyde
• Polyester Resin
• Urea Forlamdehyde

Thermoplastic

A Fisch, or thermosoftening plastic, is a plastic material, polymer, that becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and solidifies upon cooling.

Examples:

• ABS
• Acrylic
• Polyester
• Polypropylene
• Teflon
• Nylon

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What are LDPE and HDPE?

LDPE

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene.

HDPE

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum.

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What are Copolymer and Homopolymer?

What are Copolymer and Homopolymer?

Homopolymer

A homopolymer is the polymer which is made by linking only one type of small molecule, or monomer together.

Examples: Polyvinyl chloride

Copolymer

When two different types of monomers unite together to polymerize in the same polymer chain, that produces a copolymer.

Example: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Nitrile rubber

There are mainly four types of copolymers.

• Alternating copolymer
• Random copolymer
• Block copolymer
• Graft copolymer

To understand those, let A and B are two different monomer.

Alternating copolymer: When the two monomers are arranged in an alternating fashion, the polymer is called an alternating copolymer.

-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B-

Alternating copolymer

Random copolymer: In a random copolymer, the two monomers may follow in any order:

-A-A-B-A-B-B-A-B-A-A-B-B-B-A-

Random copolymer

Block copolymer: In a block copolymer, all of one type of monomer are grouped together, and all of the other are grouped together. A block copolymer can be thought of as two homopolymers joined together.

-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-

Block copolymer

Graft copolymer: When chains of a polymer made of monomer B are grafted onto a polymer chain of monomer A we have a graft copolymer.

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What is Polymerization?

Polymerization

In polymer chemistry, polymerization is a process by which two or more molecules (monomer) combine by a chemical reaction to form larger molecules (polymer) that contain repeating structural units.

See Also: Types of Polymerization

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What are monomers and polymers?

What are monomers and polymers?

Monomer

A monomer is a molecule that may bind chemically to other molecules to form a polymer. Commonly a monomer is an organic molecule, containing two carbon atoms which share a double bond (C=C). This double bond will "open" during the polymerization allowing each carbon atom to be attached to another one.The most common natural monomer is glucose, which is linked by glycosidic bonds into polymers such as cellulose, starch, and glycogen. Most often the term monomer refers to the organic molecules which form synthetic polymers, such as, vinyl chloride, which is used to produce the polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Example:

Vinyl Chloride

Polymer

Polymer comes from two Greek words "Polus" and "Meros" which mean "Many" and "Part". A polymer is a large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of many repeated subunits. By definition, it's a macromolecule which has been created by the reaction of many molecules called monomers.

Example:

Polystyrene

Also See: Polymerization

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