Polymerization
Hermann Staudinger discovered that natural compounds were made up of
macromolecules composed of 10,000 or more atoms.
Those macromolecules are formed by repeated units called ‘monomers’ and
are identified as ‘polymers’.
How polymerization works
The process in which relatively small molecules (monomers) combine
chemically to produce a very large chainlike or network molecule (a polymer) is
known as ‘polymerization’.
Polymer morphology
The shape and the way molecules aggregate and are arranged determine all of
the polymer properties.
Crystalline and amorphous materials coexist in polymers: crystalline materials
have their molecules arranged in repeating patterns while amorphous materials
have their molecules arranged randomly.
Natural and synthetic polymers
Many important natural materials are made up of polymeric macromolecules.
Addition and condensation Polymerization
Condensation Polymerization: formed from a reaction that leaves behind a
small molecule, often water.
Addition Polymerization: to form a polymer without the formation of by
products
Polymers can be…
Linear polymers: they are thermoplastic, viscous liquid or solid and they can be
dissolve.
Cross-linked polymers: they are termoset and they can’t be dissolve.
Polymers morfhology
Amorfhous: They have random molecules and hard.
Semi-cristalline: They are a mix and they have 1 or more point to fondation.
Cristalline: They have repeated pattern of molecules and they are fragile.
