The following links contain the information needed to answer the questions below. These links are all reputable sites that you can trust to have correct information posted on them.
The Macrogalleria, a cyberwonderland of polymer fun from the Department of Polymer Science at the University of Southern Mississippi
Polymers and Liquid Crystals from Case Western Reserve University
Polymer Chemistry Facts a collection of links from various universities and companies.
Polymer Chemistry Hypertext from the University of Missouri, Rolla
Plastics Resource from the American Plastics Council
Glossary of Basic Terms in Polymer Science Courtesy of Prof. Suter of the Institute of Polymers, Zurich, Switzerland
An Introduction to Polymerization, from Northwestern University, uses annimation to show addition and condensation polymerization.
Condensation Polymers from Dr. Alan J. Jircitano at Penn State University.
Polymers a slideshow by Edward Goo at University of Southern California.
Polymers from the Institute for Chemical Education (ICE) at the University of Wisconsin.
Polymerization is the process of joining monomers. Polymers may be formed by condensation or by addition polymerization.
b. Sketch out an example of how two monomers can join to form a dimer.
c. How can this lead to the formation of long-chain polymers? What is the prerequisite for this to occur?
d. What are five kinds of important, everyday condensation polymers?
b. Show how addition polymerization can occur.
c. What are the three basic steps in addition polymerization? What has to happen during each step for polymerization to occur?
d. What are three important, common polymers formed by addition polymerization?
b. What decides if a polymer will be thermosetting or thermoplastic?
c. What are three important, common thermosetting polymers?
d. What are three important, common thermoplastic polymers?
b. What are three important long straight-chained polymers?
c. What are three important long branched polymers?
d. What are three important long cross-linked polymers?
b. What are three important amorphous polymers?
c. What are three important crystalline polymers?
d. How does light penetration qualities depend on the degree of crystallization?
b. Some polymers have excellent thermal insulating properties. Why or how do they do this? What are three examples of such polymers?
c. Many polymers are excellent electrical insulators. Why? What are three examples of such polymers?
d. Research is being done on producing polymers that will conduct an electrical current? Why would this be desired? What kind of polymer has been produced so far that will conduct a current?
b. What are some other polymers that are also "foamed"?
c. Why "foam" a polymer?
d. What are three important uses of these foamed polymers?
b. What is the sheeting process? Describe how it is carried out. What common items are produced by this process?
c. What are thin polymer fibers or filaments? Describe how they are produced. What common materials are made by this process?
d. What are the injection molding and blow molding processes? Describe how they are carried out. How are they similar and how are they different? What common items are produced by this process?
e. What is the rotational molding process? Describe how it is carried out. What common items are produced by this process?
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