Everything Science Grade 12

CHAPTER 2. ORGANICMACROMOLECULES 2.5

• Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (figure 2.8) is used inplumbing, gutters, electronic
  equipment, wires and food packaging. The sidechains of PVC contain chlorine
  atoms, which give it itsparticular characteristics.

C C

H

H

Cl

H

n

Figure 2.8: Polyvinyl chloride

FACT

Many vinyl products

have other chemicals

added to them to

give them particular

properties. Some of

these chemicals, called

additives, can leach out

of the vinyl products.

In PVC, plasticisers are

used to make PVC more

flexible. Because many

baby toys are made from

PVC, there is concern

that some of these

products may leach into

the mouths of the babies

that are chewing on

them. In the USA, most

companies have stopped

making PVC toys. There

are also concerns that

some of the plasticisers

added to PVC may cause

a number of health

conditions including

cancer.

• Synthetic rubber
  Another plastic that wascritical to the World War 2 effort was synthetic rubber,
  which was produced ina variety of forms. Not only were worldwidenatural
  rubber supplies limited,but most rubber-producing areas were under Japanese
  control. Rubber was needed for tyres and parts of war machinery. After the war,
  synthetic rubber also played an important part inthe space race and nuclear arms
  race.


• Polyethene/polyethylene (PE)
  Polyethylene (figure 2.1) was discovered in 1933. It is a cheap, flexible and
  durable plastic and is used to make films and packaging materials, containers and
  car fittings. One of themost well known polyethylene products is ’Tupperware’,
  the sealable food containers designed by Earl Tupper and promoted through a
  network of housewives!


• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
  Polytetrafluoroethylene(figure 2.9) is more commonly known as ’Teflon’ and is
  most well known for itsuse in non-stick frying pans. Teflon is also usedto make
  the breathable fabric Gore-Tex.

C C

F

F

F

F

C C

F

F

F

F

n

Figure 2.9: A tetra fluoroethylene monomer andpolytetrafluoroethylenepolymer

Table 2.1 summarises the formulae, properties and uses of some of the most common
plastics.