Polymers

=Polymers=

Polymer is the term given to many plastics, rubbers, paints and fibers. A polymer is a bicycle chain. It is composed of many smaller pieces called monomers, which when chemically combined, form a polymer. There are main types of polymers; thermoplastics and thermosets. **Thermoplastics** are long chains of monomer connected together, which are held together by weak dispersion forces. Thermoplastics can often be bend and stretched, and are quite flexible (for instance coke bottles). They can be reshaped and remolded by heating. **Thermosets** are much tougher plastics, and once made into a shape, they cannot be reshaped or remolded. This strength is due to cross links between the polymer chains. These cross links mean however that the polymer sets very hard, and can be quite brittle (for example, saucepan handles).

Task 1
Plasticine, MacBooks (Photo booth)
 * Materials needed:**

a) Using you macbook and some plasticine, make a claymation which shows how polymers can be formed from monomers.
 * Method**

b) Now make a claymation which shows how cross links can give strength to a polymer

c) Now make a claymation to show how Vulcanization can strengthen natural rubber (latex).