Do you know what condensation polymers are? We do not hear this term so commonly in our daily lives, but these macromolecules are fundamental to several functions and products that we use daily.
For you to understand their importance, Polyexcel has prepared a complete content, which explains how these compounds are formed and which applications they have. Want to find out how many of the things we use every day are made? Just keep reading!
What are polymers?
To understand what condensation polymers are, first, it is important to know what polymers are made of. “Poly” comes from Greek, meaning “many”, while “mer” translates as “parts”. Thus, the term “polymers” literally means “many parts”.
These parts are called monomers (“one part”), the given name to a single molecule. When they are chained together, they form a polymer, creating a macromolecule through a process called polymerization.
There are different types of polymers, which make up almost everything we know. The soles of the sneakers we wear and even the vegetables we eat are made up of at least a part of polymers, which can be synthetic or natural.
As the name suggests, natural polymers are developed by the environment itself. If you ever wonder “what are examples of polymers?”, know that cellulose, latex, and starch are a few. On the other hand, synthetics are made in a laboratory. Both participate enormously in our daily use, present in PET bottles, for example.
The main classes of synthetic polymers are addition, condensation, and rearrangement. Each of them has different properties, from acquisition, for what they originally classify, to the ultimate purpose.
Condensation polymers
Condensation polymers are made by the polymerization of two or more monomers. What makes them different, giving them this classification, is that a molecule is removed during the polymerization process, not being part of the polymer. That is, if a polymer does not meet these characteristics, it belongs to another classification, not a condensation polymer.
In this way, regular macromolecules are formed, with the release of a single molecule, generally water. In some cases, however, the discarded molecule may be another one, such as ammonia, hydrogen, or hydrogen cyanide, for example.
It is important to note that these polymers are always formed by functional chains and do not have the same function as the monomers from which they are derived. The joining process of these monomers is slow and gradual, one molecule at a time.
What are condensation polymers?
As we explained earlier, condensation polymers are widely used in our daily lives. Since there are hundreds of possible combinations of these monomers, each one results in a different type of polymer.
In turn, these polymers have hundreds of other possible applications. If you ever wonder “what are polymers used for?”, check out some examples of very common condensation polymers below.
Polyester
Polyester is well-known for being a fiber used in fabric manufacturing. However, this classification fits all polymers that contain esters in the main composition, such as polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, as it is popularly known. Some applications of it are:
- bottles;
- clothes;
- upholstered;
- paints;
- musical instruments;
- umbrellas.
Polyamide (nylon)
Nylon is another example of our condensation polymers list. It forms a synthetic fiber, which became very popular for being cheaper than others and, even so, quite resistant. It is formed by hexanedioic acid and hexamethylenediamine, being found in:
- clothes;
- toothbrushes;
- industrial filaments;
- screws;
- wheels.
Polyacrylamide (Kevlar)
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic fiber that became famous for its resistance. It is a polymer so powerful that it is ten times stronger than steel. Because of this, it is used in:
- bulletproof vests;
- airplane parts;
- chassis;
- fuel tanks;
- seat belts.
Polycarbonate
Another polymer known for its strength is polycarbonate, a thermoplastic that has several applications. It is highly demanded because of the safety it offers, being more resistant than glass, and supporting extreme temperatures. It is widely used in:
- coverings;
- CDs;
- armored glass;
- lenses.
Silicone
Silicone is a very versatile polymer, which has different applications and is quite common in our daily lives. This is mainly due to its heat resistance. It is made of silicon and found in:
- implants;
- cosmetics;
- resins;
- sealants;
- molds.
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