Chapter 26 — Chapter 26 — Polymers

Polymers are very large molecules made by joining many small molecules called monomers through polymerisation. Organic polymers have made life easier, more efficient and economical due to superior properties and affordable cost: shopping bags (poly(ethene)), clothesline (poly(propene)), bulletproof vests (Kevlar®) and aerospace uses. Properties vary with the type and number of monomers and the method of manufacture: poly(ethene) and poly(propene) are light and soft, Kevlar® is hard and thermally very stable. Systematic names put 'poly' before the monomer name: polythene = poly(ethene), polyvinyl chloride = poly(chloroethene). For two or more monomers common names are used because systematic names are too long, e.g. poly(ethane-1,2-diyl benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate) = polyethylene terephthalate (PETE).