Alexei Volkov
Polymers are substances composed of very large molecules called macromolecules, which are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. They are found in numerous places and come in two types: natural and synthetic. Natural polymers are manufactured from natural materials, including polysaccharides, proteins, or various biofibers. Synthetic polymers, on the other hand, are synthesized in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers). Plastic is a specific type of synthetic polymer derived from petroleum hydrocarbons, particularly crude oil and natural gas, and composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Polymers are substances composed of very large molecules called macromolecules, which are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Plastics are a specific type of polymer made up of long chains of polymers. |
| Composition | Plastics are composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine. They can also be produced from silicon atoms (silicone) along with carbon. |
| Types of Polymers | Natural and Synthetic. |
| Natural Polymers | Manufactured from natural materials, including polysaccharides, proteins, or various biofibers. Examples include tree bark, silk from silkworms, and proteins in the human body. |
| Synthetic Polymers | Synthetic polymers are synthesized in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers). They are commonly used in everyday tools and appliances. Examples include nylon, Terylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Teflon. |
| Plastic Manufacturing | Plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas, and coal. The main steps include extracting raw materials and refining to obtain monomers, which are then processed to create plastics. |
| Applications | Plastics have diverse applications, including medicine, automobiles, and homes. |
| Environmental Impact | Plastics pose end-of-life recycling and disposal issues due to their non-biodegradability. However, efforts are being made to develop environmentally friendly polymers using biodegradable materials. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is a synthetic polymer
The word plastic is derived from the Latin 'plasticus' and the Greek 'plastikos', both of which mean 'capable of moulding'. Plastics are synthetic polymers, which are human-made substances composed of very large molecules called macromolecules. These macromolecules are formed from the chemical combination of smaller, simpler molecules known as monomers. The monomers are derived from the processing of crude oil, natural gas, and coal, which are fossil fuels.
The main ingredient in most plastic materials is a derivative of crude oil and natural gas. The monomers are the basic building blocks of polymers. After extraction, the raw materials undergo a refining process to transform the crude oil into different petroleum products. These products are then converted into useful chemicals, including monomers.
Polymers can be natural or synthetic, and plastics are a specific type of polymer. Natural polymers are manufactured from natural materials such as polysaccharides, proteins, or various biofibres, whereas synthetic polymers are synthesized in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers). An example of a natural polymer is tree bark, whereas polyethylene, nylon, Terylene, and PVC are examples of synthetic polymers.
Synthetic polymers are commonly used in everyday tools and appliances, and they make up countless products or materials. The different monomers used to create synthetic polymers result in plastics with different appearances, durability, and flexibility. For example, polyethylene is made from multiple monomers of ethylene, making it hard but flexible enough to crush.
Plastics have found an important role in our lives, from medicine to automobiles to our homes. However, they also pose end-of-life recycling and disposal issues as they do not break down easily. To address this, environmentally friendly techniques are being developed, such as incorporating recycled and reclaimed plastics and using additives like natural fibres from hemp and rice to enhance biodegradability.
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Natural polymers are biodegradable
Polymers are created when small molecules, also known as monomers, chemically combine to form a larger network of connected molecules. They can be either natural or synthetic. Natural polymers are manufactured from natural materials, including polysaccharides, proteins, or various biofibers.
Biodegradation occurs either by hydrolysis or oxidative mechanisms. It can take place through the action of enzymes and/or chemical deterioration associated with living organisms. This event occurs in two steps. The first one is the fragmentation of the polymers into lower molecular mass species by means of either abiotic reactions, i.e., oxidation, photodegradation, or hydrolysis, or biotic reactions, i.e., degradations by microorganisms. The second mechanistic route is through biological processes, which can be further broken down into aerobic and anaerobic processes. The first involves aerobic biodegradation, where oxygen is present and important. The second mechanism of biodegradation is by anaerobic processes, where oxygen is not present.
Natural polymers are known to degrade by the effect of naturally occurring enzymes. They have better biodegradability than synthetic polymers. Biodegradable polymers are viable alternatives to non-degradable plastics for the abatement of environmental pollution.
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Synthetic polymers are derived from crude oil
Synthetic polymers are human-made polymers that are synthesised in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers). They are derived from crude oil, natural gas, and coal—fossil fuels that are neither biodegradable nor environmentally friendly. The process of deriving synthetic polymers from crude oil begins with the extraction of raw materials, which are then processed and refined. Crude oil is heated in a furnace and sent to a distillation unit, where heavy crude oil separates into lighter components called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is a crucial compound used to make large amounts of plastic.
Naphtha is a volatile mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained by the distillation of crude oil. It is composed of C5 to C10 hydrocarbons and is thermally decomposed at high temperatures of around 800°C in the presence of water vapour, splitting into light hydrocarbons known as major. These light hydrocarbons are then used in the polymerisation process to form synthetic polymers.
An example of the polymerisation process is the formation of polyethylene (PE) from ethylene. Initiators are added to start the chain reaction, and after the formation of PE, some chemicals (antioxidants and stabilisers) are added. An extruder then converts the PE into strings, which are converted into PE pellets by grinders. These pellets are then melted into the final products.
The wide range of applications of crude oil-based polymers, from packaging to construction materials and medical equipment, has led to their extensive use. However, the environmental impact of these polymers has sparked concern, as they do not easily break down and can remain in the environment for centuries. As a result, there is a growing interest in bio-based polymers derived from renewable raw materials such as plant and animal biomass and organic waste.
While bio-based polymers offer potential as substitutes for their crude oil-based counterparts, they cannot yet completely replace them due to the unique functional properties of synthetic polymers, such as durability and mechanical strength. Therefore, a combination of biopolymers and crude oil-based polymers is currently being explored to reduce the environmental impact of synthetic polymers while retaining their desirable characteristics.
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Natural polymers are found in nature
Natural polymers are commonly found in nature and can be extracted from plants, animals, and humans. They are formed by addition polymerization or condensation polymerization, with most natural polymers being condensation polymers, which means water is formed as a byproduct. Natural polymers have been used for their chemical properties for a long time, even before they were understood in chemistry. Flax, wool, and leather, for example, were processed into fibers to make clothing, and animal bones were boiled down to make glue.
Natural polymers are also present in the human body and include proteins and nucleic acids. Some natural polymers, such as DNA and RNA, are essential in the life processes of all living organisms. Other examples of natural polymers include cellulose, chitin, pectin, proteins, carbohydrates, and rubber.
Cellulose, the most abundant natural polymer, is found in plants and consists of stretched-out fibers, which can be used to make fabric. It is also used in the manufacturing of paper as it is not dissolved by water. Chitin is another natural polymer present in the cell walls of parasitic cells.
Natural polymers have better biocompatibility and biodegradability than synthetic polymers. They have a highly regular structure and often contain a polypeptide called a ligand to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. Natural polymers are also known to degrade due to the effect of naturally occurring enzymes, and their degradation rate can be controlled by chemical crosslinking or other chemical modifications.
Synthetic polymers, on the other hand, are synthesized in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers). Examples of synthetic polymers include nylon, Terylene, polyethylene, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Teflon. While synthetic polymers offer advantages such as stability and consistency, they also pose environmental challenges due to their difficulty in breaking down at the end of their life.
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Plastic is a polymer of high molecular weight
Polymers are substances composed of very large molecules, also known as macromolecules, which are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. They can be natural or synthetic. Natural polymers are manufactured from natural materials, such as polysaccharides, proteins, or various biofibers, and they occur in nature and can be extracted. Synthetic polymers, on the other hand, are synthesized in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers). Examples of synthetic polymers include polyethylene, nylon, Terylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Bakelite.
Plastic is a specific type of polymer made up of a long chain of polymers. It is a synthetic polymer derived from petroleum hydrocarbons. Some of the most familiar plastic polymers include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), epoxy, and polyester (PS).
Plastics have become ubiquitous in everyday life, from medicine to automobiles to our homes. They offer cost savings and efficiency benefits to manufacturers. However, they also pose end-of-life recycling and disposal issues due to their durability and non-biodegradability.
The physical properties of polymers, including plastics, depend on their length or molecular weight. Molecular weight is a crucial parameter in polymer manufacturing and can impact various physical properties such as viscosity, tensile strength, and shape. Techniques like size-exclusion chromatography and scattering methods are used to determine the molecular weight and dimensions of polymers.
In summary, plastic is indeed a polymer of high molecular weight, and its unique physical properties are influenced by this molecular weight. The high molecular weight of plastics contributes to their durability and widespread use but also creates challenges in recycling and environmentally friendly disposal.
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Frequently asked questions
A polymer is a substance composed of very large molecules called macromolecules, which are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers can be natural or synthetic.
Plastic is a specific type of polymer made up of long chains of polymers. Plastics are high molecular weight organic polymers composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine.
Plastic is an artificial or synthetic polymer. The majority of plastics in use today are synthetic as they are easier to manufacture from crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Synthetic polymers are manufactured in laboratories from low-molecular-weight compounds (monomers).
Natural polymers are commonly found in nature and can be extracted. They include proteins (silk, collagen, gelatin), polysaccharides (cellulose, amylose, dextran), and polynucleotides (DNA, RNA).
