What is a polymer?

Polymers that you know….

Polyurethane

Polycarbonate

Polyethylene

Polyacrylamide

Polystyrene

Poly(vinyl chloride)

chemicals-technology.com http://www.chemicals-technology.com/projects/BASF-HPPO/BASF-HPPO2.html (accessed date: June 21,2010)earth911.comhttp://earth911.com/recycling/plastic/pvc/ (accesssed date:June 21,2010)http://mypatiofarm.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/coke_2litre_bottles2.jpg (accessed date: June 21,2010)http://reusablebags.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/16/nalgene_bottles.jpg (accessed date: June 21,2010). Catering Hygiene http://www.slsonline.co.uk/showdetails.asp?id=2148 (accessed date: June 21,2010)http://hanshaupt.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/soft-contact-lens.jpg (accessed date: June 21,2010)

But what is a polymer….

A B

Polymers that you know….

Polyurethane

Polystyrene

Polycarbonate

Polyethylene

Polyacrylamide

Polystyrene

Poly(vinyl chloride)

Polymers in medical devices

Polyurethane

Poly(vinyl chloride)Polytetrafluoroethylene

Polyurethane (inner)

Polyethylene terephthalate (outer)

Silly Putty experiment

Vinyl alcohol Monomer

Tetrahydroxyborate anion Cross-Linking Agent

• Basic building block for polymer synthesis

• Linkers that chemical bond polymer chain together

Poly(vinyl alcohol) Polymer

How does a cross-linker work?

Cross-linker affect on material properties

• More chains linked together

• Increasing stiffness

• Less range of motion available rigid and stiff

• No chains linked together

• Larger range of motion available to some chains more bouncy

No Cross-links With Cross-links