Planet Polymer By Chelsea Zacher and Brianna Kaylor

Planet Polymer By: Chelsea Zacher and Brianna Kaylor Summer Bridge Program Academy of Science Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, Dr. Jennifer Burris, Dr. Nicole Bennett, and Dr. Barry Kurtz http: //www. californiasailplanes. com/duckedit. jpg

Isn’t Polymer Fancy for ‘Plastic’? o Polymers consist of long, repeating chain of smaller units called monomers. o Monomers are typically about 4 -10 atoms in size. They bond readily in a process called polymerization. o Polymers have the highest molecular weight among any molecules o Polymers are the largest and most diverse class of known molecules. o And yes, they do include plastics. http: //www. thisnext. com/tag/freshvac-storage-set/

So What Is a Polymer? § An example of a basic polymer is PVC (or polyvinyl chloride). § PVC is a repeating chain of the monomer vinyl chloride. § It is very lightweight and durable. (http: //www. mpcfaculty. net/mark_bishop/addition_polymers. htm - Below

• spoons • comb • shampoo bottles • toothbrush • shoe string tips • ceiling light covers • food wraps • table tops • disposable razors • chair seat • egg cartons • carpet • thread spools • refrigerator • margarine tubs • telephone • disposable diapers • floor tile • coffee stirrers • synthetic fabrics for • insulation caulking clothing • beverage boxes • rubber soles on shoes • shrink wrap • bicycle and automobile • bubble pack paint • Silly String • bicycle and automobile • Silly Putty tires • Slime • windshield • cellophane tape • dashboard • epoxy glue • floor mat • Super Glue • vinyl top • dish pan • bicycle hand grips • pens • reflector • plastic glasses and cups • shoe box • plastic dishes • vinyl wall covering • Teflon cookware • sunglasses • food storage containers 2 - • compacts liter pop bottles • contact lenses • motor oil bottles • pencil cases • plastic knives forks and • lipstick tubes • typewriter ribbon • chapstick tube • metallic balloon • hair spray • Habitrail • windbreaker • flea collar • raincoat • index tabs • hose • life raft • galoshes • umbrella • sweater • Nerf ball • Frisbee • snorkel • swim fins • wet suit • cleats • football • shuttlecock • hockey puck • rubber gloves • volleyball and net • basketball • racquetball • tennis racquet and strings • guitar strings • balloons • rubber band • credit card • portable radio • computers • watch faces • safety glasses • false teeth • hearing aids • lunch box • coffee mug • thermos bottle • lunch tray • flower pot • supermarket meat trays • microwave cookware • lawn chair • welcome mat • Astroturf • Velcro • football helmet • football • pads • buttons • erasers • thread • wig • false eyelashes • surfboards • parachute • sailboat • sail • Pontiac Fiero • Corvette • Honda CRX • gears • Lucite sculpture • playing cards • floor wax • furniture polish • sousaphone • clarinet • flute • recorder • records • tape recorder • videotapes • audio tapes • computer discs • luggagetypewriter case • football • pads Polymers Everywhere • model plane • model car jewelry • pacifier • baby bottles • baby rattles • cushions • foam rubber pillow • pillow case • exercise mat • photographic film • photographs • flashcubes • decorative fruit • plastic flowers • mannequins • street signs • store signs • book bag • chemistry classroom desk • school desk • knapsack insulated foam cups • milk jugs • garbage bags • toothpaste tubes • sandwich bags • fast food containers • shoe strings • junk food bags http: //www. google. com/imgres? imgurl=http: //www. greenworld 365. com

Natural vs. Synthetic Polymers Natural: • • Extracted from rubber tree harvested as a latex Water based Naturally occurring polymers: • Silk • Wool • DNA • Cellulose • Proteins Synthetic: • Derived from petroleum oil • Made by scientists • Some familiar products: • Nylon • Teflon • Polyester • Acrylic Paint • Epoxy http: //www. adamcarolla. com/AHBlog/wp-content/gallery/ep 112/01 -pvc-pipe. jpg http: //www. artificialplantsandtrees. com/mm 5/graphics/00000001/OS-414 -4 -73 L-PS. jpg http: //gelfand. web. cmu. edu/scimodules/1. _What_is_a_polymer. html

Are People Polymers? o All life is composed of DNA, which is a long chain of monomers called nucleotides linked together. o Human DNA is a polymer with over 20 billion constituent atoms. http: //www. djfeathers. com/shop/images/deposits/DNA. jpg

Brief History of Synthetic Polymers o 1860 - Alexander Parkes created the first man-made plastic called Parkesine o Can be molded when heated o Will retain it’s shape when cooled o 1868 - John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for ivory billiard balls. o First flexible photographic film used for still photography and motion pictures K

Brief History of Synthetic Polymers cont… o 1930 - Synthetic rubber was developed by the Carothers o 1938 - Roy Plunkett discovers Teflon o originally used only in war effort but modified for convenient kitchen use in later years. o 1946 - Tupperware was created by Earl Tupper. o 1962 - Nickel-Titanium alloy shape memory o used for braces and flexible eyeglasses frames. o 1964 - Acrylic Paints and Carbon Fiber Developed (the latter by Leslie Phillips) o Carbon fiber was developed to be twice as strong as steel for the same weight.

o 1990 s to present o Nanotechnology- though polymers are usually macromolecules, their applications branch into micro-science and technology at the atomic level. o The future of polymers has no end in sight. o Super cars, speed trains, personal helicopters, 3 D film and devices, apple devices, supercomputers, astrological technology, artificial super skin (in the biomedical field)- all part of the fast moving world synthetic polymers. Now try to imagine this planet as we know it without polymers. http: //www. google. com/imgres? q=carbon+fiber+lamborghini&hl=en&biw of

Acknowledgements v Dr. Rahman Tashakkori v Dr. Jennifer Burris v Dr. Nicole Bennett v Dr. Barry Kurtz v. Academy of Science Summer Bridge 2011 (NSF supported) v Mr. Jim Davis v Ms. Jennifer Gallagher

Works Cited • • Jacobson, Annette. "Macromolecule Products. " Polymers and Surfaces Program Outreach Project. Department of Chemical Engineering Carnegie Mellon University, 2009. Web. 2 Aug 2011. <http: //gelfand. web. cmu. edu/scimodules/1. _What_is_a_polymer. html>. "2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570 -4 Superleggera " Left Lane. MNM Media, LLC, n. d. Web. 2 Aug 2011. http: //www. leftlanenews. com/lamborghini-gallardo-lp 570 -4 superleggera. html#. "High-performance Materials Timeline. " Greatest Achievements. National Academy of Engineering, 2011. Web. 2 Aug 2011. http: //www. greatachievements. org/? id=3805. Constable, George. A Century of Innovation: Twenty Engineering Achievements That Transformed Our Lives. 2003. Joseph Henry Press, 2003. 229 -239. Print.