Addition Polymers

Polymer Chemistry

In this short course, Dr Danny Allwood (Sheffield Hallam University) introduces polymers: long-chain compounds, often with hundreds if not thousands of atoms in one chain. We begin by (i) talking about addition polymers, compounds often formed alkenes where the polymer is the only product formed; before (ii) looking at condensation polymers, another form of synthetic polymer that can be made industrially, distinguishing its properties and mechanism of formation from addition polymers, before (iii) looking at naturally occurring polymers, such as proteins, DNA and sugars.

Addition Polymers

In the first mini-lecture, we introduce the idea of polymers by first looking at addition polymers: long-chain compounds which are formed as the only product of a chain reaction. We take a look at the structure of polythene, the simplest possible addition polymer before looking at one of the mechanisms that addition polymers can form: by free radical polymerisation. Then, we move onto to looking at the structure of common addition polymers, including poly(ethylene) and poly(ethenol).