Condensation Polymers

This lesson covers: 

1. How condensation polymers form through elimination reactions
2. Polyesters and polyamides
3. Hydrolysing condensation polymers
4. Working out monomer and repeat unit structures
5. Comparing addition and condensation polymerisation

Condensation polymerisation involves elimination reactions

Condensation polymerisation reactions lead to the formation of long polymer chains through the joining of monomers, accompanied by the elimination of small molecules like water (H₂O) or hydrogen chloride (HCl).

Key features of condensation polymers:

• They are formed from reactions between monomers that contain at least two functional groups.
• The functional groups of the monomers join up, creating links between the repeat units.
• A small molecule, such as water or hydrogen chloride, is eliminated each time a link forms.

Common types of condensation polymers are:

• Polyesters
• Polyamides

Polyesters

Polyesters are a type of condensation polymer formed from the reaction between dicarboxylic acids (or derivatives such as acyl chlorides) and diols. The carboxyl (–COOH) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups react, forming ester links in the polymer chain.

An example of a polyester is Terylene, which is synthesised from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and ethane-1,2-diol:

Terylene is commonly used for plastic bottles and containers, as well as fibres for clothing and fabrics.

Polyamides

Polyamides are another type of condensation polymer, formed from dicarboxylic acids (or derivatives such as acyl chlorides) and diamines. The carboxyl and amine groups react, forming amide links within the polymer chain.

Examples of polyamides include:

• Nylon - Formed from hexanedioic acid and 1,6-diaminohexane. Nylon is commonly used for fibres in clothing, ropes, and parachutes.

• Kevlar - Formed from benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid and 1,4-diaminobenzene. Kevlar is used for bulletproof vests and sports equipment.

Hydrolysis breaks down condensation polymers

The process of condensation polymerisation can be reversed through hydrolysis, which involves adding water across the links. However, hydrolysis with just water is very slow, so acids or bases are typically used to speed up the reaction.

Acid hydrolysis of polyamides

Polyamides are more rapidly hydrolysed under acidic conditions.

For example:

The acid protonates the carbonyl group, enabling water to attack and split the amide linkage, thereby reforming the dicarboxylic acid and the ammonium salt of the diamine.

Alkaline hydrolysis of polyesters

Polyesters are more rapidly hydrolysed under basic conditions.

For example:

The hydroxide ion attacks the carbonyl carbon, breaking the ester linkage and reforming the diol and the dicarboxylate salt.

Working out monomer and repeat unit structures

Drawing monomers from a polymer

To deduce the monomers that form a condensation polymer, follow these steps:

1. Identify the amide (HN-CO) or ester (CO-O) linkage between repeat units.
2. Cut the link in the middle to separate the polymer chain.
3. Add an H atom or -OH group to both ends of the molecules. H atoms are added to N or O atoms, and -OH groups to C atoms.

For example, the monomers that form a particular polyamide can be identified from its polymer structure:

Drawing repeat units from monomers

To draw the repeat unit from condensation monomers, follow these steps:

1. Place the structures of the two monomers side by side.
2. Remove an H atom from one monomer (e.g., diol or diamine) and an OH group from the other (e.g., dicarboxylic acid), forming a H₂O molecule as a by-product. For diacyl chlorides, remove Cl instead of OH, forming HCl.
3. Connect the monomers through either an amide or ester linkage, depending on their functional groups.
4. To indicate continuity, remove another H atom and OH/Cl group from the opposite ends.

The repeating unit of a polyester, for instance, can be deduced from its monomers' structures:

Comparing addition and condensation polymerisation

The mechanisms of addition and condensation polymerisation differ significantly:

Addition polymers are synthesised from alkene monomers, which contain C=C double bonds, forming chains composed solely of carbon atoms.

Condensation polymers, on the other hand, are synthesised from monomers containing functional groups such as -COOH, -NH₂, and -OH, leading to chains that incorporate ester and/or amide bonds.