Examples Of Some Common Polymers

Figure illustrated an ethylene monomer with four hydrogen atoms replaced by radicals R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄. Different polymers are achieved by placing such radicals as H, Cl, CH₃, COOH₃, C₆H₅, etc. in place of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄.

When R₁ = R₂ = R₃ = R₄ = H, polyethylene is attained, polyethylene has been illustrated in Figures . It is widely utilized for tubes, sheets and household containers.When R₁ = R₂ = R₃ and R₄ = Cl as shown in Figure, the vinyl polymer, known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC, is attained. PVC is largely utilized for electrical insulation & conduit pipes.

If R₁ = R₂ = H, R₃ = CH₃ and R₄ = COOH₃ a polymer known as polymethyl-methacrylate is attained. This polymer, frequently referred to as PMMA, is illustrated in Figure.

PMMA is commercially known as, plexiglass , perspecs or lucite. This is strong and hard but is normally utilized for its glass like transparency.

Styrofoam, largely known for its porous structure and thermal insulation is attained when R₁ = R₂ = H and R₃ = R₄ = C₆H₅. It is utilized as insulator in refrigerators and buildings and as sound absorbent.

PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene, commercially known as Teflon, is chemically resistant to all chemicals except hydrofluoric acid. This polymer is attained by replacing each R by fluorine radical, F. Teflon might retain its hardness up to comparatively high temperature and therefore utilized as coating on razor blades, frying pans and for biomedical applications. It is also utilized as bearing and vacuum ring.