The Foundations of Chemistry

1094 CHAPTER 27: Organic Chemistry I: Formulas, Names, and Properties

TABLE 27-14 Some Important Addition Polymers

Polymer Production,
Polymer Name Tons/Year in
(some trade names) Some Uses United States Monomer Name Monomer Formula

polyethylene electrical insulation; .14 million ethylene
(Polythene) toys and molded
objects; bags;
squeeze bottles

polypropylene bottles; films; lab 6.7 million propylene
(Herculon, equipment, toys;
Vectra) packaging film;
filament for rope,
webbing,
carpeting; molded
auto and appliance
parts

polyvinyl chloride pipe, siding, gutters; 7.4 million vinyl chloride
(PVC) floor tiles

polyacrylonitrile acrylic fibers for 95,000 acrylonitrile
(Orlon, Acrilan) carpets, clothing,
knitwear

polystyrene molded toys, dishes, 3.3 million styrene
(Styrene, kitchen equipment;
Styrofoam, insulating foam,
Styron) e.g., ice chests;
rigid foam
packaging

poly(methyl meth- high-quality 507,000 methyl methacrylate
acrylate) transparent
(Plexiglas, objects; water-
Lucite) based paints;
contact lenses

polybutadiene automotive tire tread, 610,000 1,3-butadiene
hoses, belts; metal
can coatings

ethylene-propylene appliance parts; auto 324,000 ethylene, propylene formulas given above
copolymer hoses, bumpers,
body and chassis
parts; coated
fabrics

SBR copolymer tires 1 million styrene, 1,3-butadiene formulas given above

HCH 3

H

CC

O

C OCH 3

HH

H

CC H

HH

CC

HH

H H

CC

HH

H CH 3

CC

HH

H Cl

CC

HH

H CN

CC

HH

H

CC