Teflon^(R) - A Case Study of Basic Polymer Chemistry

Polymers are Everywhere...

Although we may not always realise it, everyday we find ourselves surrounded by polymers in some way. The vast usage of polymers - from the foam inside the chair you are sitting on to the plastic on the computer you are using - reflects the size and importance of the polymer industry.

So what are polymers?

The word Polymer comes from the Greek words poly meaning 'many' and meros meaning 'parts'. From a structural perspective, polymers are long-chain molecules, consisting of many repeating units of smaller molecules or monomers (Greek, 'single part').

The most important starting materials for polymerisation are the alkenes. Put simply, these monomers are bound together without the loss of any atoms, forming very high molecular weight chains.

The most common example of this is the addition polymerisation of ethene (CH₂=CH₂) to give poly(ethene) or polyethylene, known to most as polythene. In this formation, the electrons from broken pi bonds are used to form new sigma bonds between monomer units.

It is the long-chain structure that makes poly(ethene) flexible but relatively strong, hence its use in products such as 'cling film'. Over 10 million tons of poly(ethene) are manufactured in the United States every year.

This structure is represented below, showing the repeating unit. Note: n can be very large, as the molecular weight of poly(ethene) ranges from 50 000 to over 1 500 000.

Use these links to find more information on polymer chemistry:

• Some common alkene polymers and their uses
• Teflon^(R) - A case study.
• Acknowledgements and References.

Teflon^(R) is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.