Chloe Zhang
Plastic polymers are derived from natural, organic materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, and crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds and needs to be processed before it can be used to create plastic polymers. The production of plastic polymers begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery, which separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is the crucial compound for the production of plastic polymers. Plastic polymers can also be made from synthetic materials, with the first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, being invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. Plastic polymers are classified by the chemical processes used in their synthesis, such as condensation, polyaddition, and cross-linking, as well as their physical properties, including hardness, density, tensile strength, and thermal resistance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a polymer? | A substance made of many repeating units. |
| What is a monomer? | A single unit or a "part" of a polymer. |
| What is plastic? | A specific type of synthetic polymer with a large molecular mass and a mostly linear structure. |
| What is a synthetic polymer? | Polymers that are made by humans, often using carbon atoms from petroleum and other fossil fuels. |
| What are some examples of synthetic polymers? | Polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polytetrafluoroethylene. |
| What are some examples of synthetic plastics? | Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Bakelite. |
| How are plastics made? | By linking monomers such as ethylene and propylene through processes like polymerization and polycondensation to form long polymer chains. |
| What are the two types of polymerization? | Addition polymerization and condensation polymerization. |
| What are the three steps of addition polymerization? | Initiation, propagation, and termination. |
| What are some examples of addition polymerization plastics? | Polyethylene, polystyrene, and acrylic. |
| What are some examples of condensation polymerization plastics? | Nylons, some polyesters, and urethanes. |
| What are the two main types of plastics? | Thermoplastics and thermosets. |
| What are thermoplastics? | Thermoplastics are plastics that can be softened by heating and hardened by cooling, allowing for easy processing, reprocessing, and recycling. |
| What are thermosets? | Thermosets are plastics that cannot be softened once they have been moulded and are often used in adhesives. |
| What are the sources of synthetic plastics? | Crude oil, natural gas, and coal. |
| What are the sources of biobased plastics? | Renewable products such as carbohydrates, fats, and oils. |
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What You'll Learn
- Synthetic polymers are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal
- Biobased plastics come from renewable products like carbohydrates, fats, and oils
- The first synthetic polymer was Bakelite, invented in 1907
- Plastic polymers can be made from biocomposites, which are biodegradable
- Plastic polymers are also derived from carbon atoms provided by petroleum
Synthetic polymers are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal
The process of creating plastic begins with the extraction of these raw materials, which are then refined to transform the crude oil into different petroleum products. This refining process involves heating the crude oil in a furnace and sending it to a distillation unit, where it separates into lighter components called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is crucial for plastic production. Naphtha is a mixture of hydrocarbons that, when heated to around 800°C, decomposes into smaller molecules called olefins and aromatics. These molecules are then linked together to form long molecular chains called polymers.
The polymers that come out of the chemical factory are in the form of granules, powders, or liquids. They are then processed further by adding chemicals and converting them into strings, which are eventually melted into the final plastic products. The versatility of these processes allows for the creation of plastics with specific properties for various applications, such as polyethylene for packaging and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for construction due to its strength and durability.
The development of synthetic polymers has been a significant advancement, allowing humans to create materials with desired characteristics that are not limited by nature. However, there is also a growing trend towards making plastics more sustainable and biodegradable, as well as improving recycling processes to convert plastics back into the fossil fuels from which they originated.
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Biobased plastics come from renewable products like carbohydrates, fats, and oils
Plastic is a category of materials called polymers, derived from the Greek word 'polymer', which means 'many parts'. Plastics are synthetic or natural polymers of high molecular weight, composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, chlorine, and silicon. Most plastic in use today is derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. However, there is a growing interest in biobased plastics, which are derived from renewable sources.
Biobased plastics, also known as bioplastics, are plastics derived from renewable biological sources, such as plants, rather than traditional petroleum-based plastics. They are designed to address environmental concerns associated with conventional plastics, including pollution and reliance on fossil fuels. Bioplastics are typically manufactured from bio-based polymers, which are processed from natural biopolymers, including polysaccharides (e.g. corn starch, rice starch, cellulose) and lipids (vegetable fats and oils) from plants or animals.
Bioplastics offer several advantages over traditional plastics. They are made from renewable resources, often with a reduced carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Many bioplastics are biodegradable, decomposing naturally under certain conditions, which helps reduce waste in landfills. Additionally, bioplastics are less toxic and do not contain bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor commonly found in traditional plastics.
Despite these advantages, bioplastics are not a perfect solution to plastic pollution. Their production can result in greater amounts of pollutants due to the fertilizers and pesticides used in growing the crops and the chemical processing required to turn organic material into plastic. Additionally, there may be negative agricultural impacts, competition with food production, unclear end-of-life management, and higher costs associated with bioplastics.
Overall, bioplastics derived from renewable products like carbohydrates, fats, and oils offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, contributing to a circular economy with reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
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The first synthetic polymer was Bakelite, invented in 1907
Polymers are large molecules formed by covalently joining many monomer-repeating units together in the form of chains. The word 'polymer' is derived from the Greek words 'poly', meaning 'many', and 'mer', meaning 'repeating unit'. Plastics are high molecular weight organic polymers composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine. Synthetic plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal, while bio-based plastics come from renewable products such as carbohydrates, fats, and oils.
The creation of Bakelite was revolutionary for the chemical industry, which at the time derived most of its income from cloth dyes and explosives. Bakelite's commercial success inspired the industry to develop other synthetic plastics. As the world's first commercial synthetic plastic, Bakelite was named a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society. The success of Bakelite led major chemical companies to invest in the research and development of new polymers, and soon new plastics joined celluloid and Bakelite.
Over the last century and a half, humans have learned to make synthetic polymers, sometimes using natural substances like cellulose, but more often using the plentiful carbon atoms provided by petroleum and other fossil fuels. Synthetic polymers are made up of long chains of atoms, arranged in repeating units, often much longer than those found in nature. The length of these chains and the patterns in which they are arranged make polymers strong, lightweight, and flexible.
Today, plastics have saturated our world and changed the way we live. They have become an essential part of our lives, with applications in medicine, electronics, aerospace, and advanced structural composites. However, there are also concerns about the environmental impact of plastics, and efforts are being made to make plastics safer, more sustainable, and biodegradable.
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Plastic polymers can be made from biocomposites, which are biodegradable
Plastic polymers are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. They are organic polymers of high molecular weight, composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine. The world's first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907, and since then, dozens of different types of plastics have been produced, such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
However, there is a growing interest in using biocomposites to create plastic polymers. Biocomposites are materials that combine natural fibres with biodegradable resins. They are called "green composites" due to their degradable and sustainable properties, which allow for easy disposal without harming the environment. Natural fibres can be derived from biological origins, such as crops (cotton, flax, or hemp), recycled wood, waste paper, crop processing byproducts, or regenerated cellulose fibre.
The use of biocomposites offers several advantages. They are renewable, cheap, and in certain cases, completely recyclable. Natural fibres have a lower density than glass fibres, resulting in higher specific tensile strength and stiffness. Additionally, they have insulation properties against noise and heat due to their hollow structure.
When used in polymer matrices, the mechanical performance and appearance of biocomposites can be impaired due to the agglomeration and poor dispersion of the fibres. However, techniques such as fibrillation can improve interfacial adhesion by increasing the surface area for interlocking with the polymer.
Biocomposites can be used alone or as a complement to standard materials, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional synthetic polymers. They are biodegradable, reducing pollution and minimising the environmental impact of composite production.
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Plastic polymers are also derived from carbon atoms provided by petroleum
Plastic polymers are derived from carbon atoms provided by petroleum. Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a fossil fuel that serves as the primary source of most plastics in use today. The process of extracting and refining crude oil to create plastic involves several key steps. Firstly, raw materials, predominantly crude oil and natural gas, are extracted from the earth. These raw materials are then subjected to a refining process, where they are heated in a furnace and separated into lighter components through distillation. One of the crucial compounds obtained from this process is naphtha, a mixture of volatile hydrocarbons.
Naphtha is then thermally decomposed at extremely high temperatures of around 800°C in the presence of water vapour. This thermal decomposition process converts naphtha into smaller hydrocarbons known as olefins and aromatics. Olefins include ethylene (C2), propylene (C3), and butane (C4), while aromatics consist of benzene, toluene, and xylene. These small hydrocarbon molecules are the building blocks for creating larger polymer molecules.
The next step involves converting these raw materials into monomers, such as ethylene, propylene, and butene. Monomers are molecules that serve as the fundamental units of polymers. These monomers contain double bonds, allowing carbon atoms to react and form polymers through a process called polymerization. During polymerization, the hydrocarbon monomers are linked together through chemical reactions, forming long chains of carbon atoms known as polymers. These polymers are the foundation of plastic products.
One example of this process is the production of polyethylene (PE). Ethylene, a gaseous hydrocarbon monomer, is subjected to heat, pressure, and catalysts, causing the molecules to join together into long, repeating carbon chains. These carbon chains form a plastic resin known as polyethylene. The polyethylene resin is then processed in a factory to create plastic pellets, which can be melted and moulded into various plastic products.
The versatility of plastic polymers lies in their composition and structure. Carbon atoms have the unique ability to form single, double, or triple bonds with other atoms. In polymers, carbon atoms often bind with hydrogen atoms, forming hydrocarbons. If a carbon atom in a polymer is bound to four other atoms, it is referred to as a saturated hydrocarbon, which tends to be more stable. On the other hand, if the carbon atom is not bound to four other atoms, it forms double or triple bonds with other carbon atoms, resulting in an unsaturated hydrocarbon, which is generally more reactive.
The arrangement of these carbon chains and the patterns they form contribute to the strength, lightweight nature, and flexibility of plastic polymers. By manipulating the types of monomers, their arrangement, and the overall structure of the polymer, chemists can design plastics with specific properties for particular applications. This customization of polymers has led to their widespread use in various industries, from packaging to construction and even medical implants.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic polymers are derived from fossil fuels like crude oil, natural gas, and coal. They can also be made from silicon atom (silicone) along with carbon.
Polymers are substances made of many repeating units. They are formed by covalently joining many monomer units together in the form of chains. The word polymer comes from the Greek words 'poly' meaning many, and meros meaning parts or units.
Some common plastic polymers include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), epoxy, and polyester (PS).
