Polymers and Plastics: Structure, Production and Environmental Effects
Raw polymer is the general term for various types of polymeric materials, and therefore, it does not have a single formula. Instead, a specific formula is needed for a particular type of raw polymer. For example, the chemical formula for a type of raw polymer called polyethylene (PE) is as follows: \[ (CH_2CH_2)_n \] Here, \( n \) represents the number of repeating ethylene monomers in the polymer chain. Therefore, the molecular structure of polyethylene consists of repeated CH2CH2 monomers polymerized in a chain. How are polymers made? Polymers are made by the coming together of small molecules called monomers to form long, chain-like polymer molecules. This process is called polymerization, and there are two types: 1. Solid-State Polymerization: In this method, monomers react to form polymer chains using temperature, pressure, and/or solvent. This method is slower and more expensive. 2. Solution Polymerization: Monomers dissolve in a solvent, and an initiator agent (usually a peroxi