In: Chemistry
Why is molecular bonding an important consideration inn the manufacture of plastics?
Most plastics contain organic polymers. The vast majority of these polymers are based on chains of carbon atoms alone or with oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen as well. The backbone of polymer (plastic) is that part of the chain on the main path linking a large number of repeat units (monomers) together. To customize the properties of a plastic, different molecular groups hang from the backbone. The structure of these side chains influence the properties of the polymer. This fine tuning of the repeating unit's molecular structure influences the properties of the polymer. Monomers of the plastic are bonded by covlent bond by sharing of electrons of the functional groups.
The physical properties of a polymer (Plastic) are strongly dependent on the size or length of the polymer chain. For example, as chain length is increased, melting and boiling temperatures increase quickly. Impact resistance also tends to increase with chain length, as does the viscosity, or resistance to flow, of the polymer in its molten state.