A Little Book about BIG Chemistry (eBook)

Derek James Rowland (aka Jim) Massy worked mainly in industrial polymer research, with an emphasis on surface coatings and textile chemicals. Following an uninvited early retirement, he studied further at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and gained a PhD in 1986. Thereafter he spent his time doing organic synthesis of varied types in pharmaceutical research and at the UEA until a more normal retirement age beckoned.

Acknowledgements 8
Contents 10
About the Author 13
Acronyms and Initialisms 14
Introduction 15
1 Big Molecules 17
How Big Are Molecules of Plastics? 17
Trinitrotoluene 18
Macromolecules—What Are They? 18
Understanding and Inventing New Materials 19
2 Rubber in the 19th Century 20
What Is Meant by Crosslinking? 22
More Extensive Crosslinking of Rubber 23
3 Cellulose and Casein in the 19th Century 24
Cellulose 25
Casein 28
Into the 20th Century 29
4 Macromolecules in the 20th Century 30
5 Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Polymers 33
Thermoplastic Polymers 33
Thermosetting Polymers 34
Functionality and Crosslinking 35
Heat of Polymerization 36
Reaction of Phenol with Formaldehyde 36
PF Reaction Under Alkaline Conditions 36
PF Reaction Under Acid Conditions 38
Thermoplastics and Thermosets Compared 39
What is Meant by the Term ‘Elastomer’? 40
6 The Burgeoning of Modern Plastics 41
7 Physical Properties of Polymers 42
Crystallinity 42
Hydrogen Bonding 42
Reinforcement 44
Plasticization 45
8 Chemical Properties of Polymers 46
Polymers as Reagents 47
Repeating Chemical Groups of Some Common Polymers 47
Ion Exchange Resins 48
Synthetic Biopolymers 50
9 Initiation of Polymerization 52
Types of Polymer Initiator 52
Free Radical Initiators 52
Cationic Initiators 53
Organometallic Initiators 53
Anionic Initiators 54
Inhibitors of Polymerization 54
10 Copolymers 55
11 Ethical Issues 57
Cellulose Nitrate (again) 57
Environmental Damage 58
Biodegradable Polymers 58
Air Pollution 59
Toxicity 59
Recycling 59
12 The Chronology of Polymers 61
13 Summary and Conclusions 79
A Few Suggestions for Further Reading 80
Glossary 81
References 85
Index 88