SYNTHETIC MATERIALS IN

INDUSTRY
Synthetic polymer
Chemical compound that has long-chained
molecules made up of units of small
molecules called monomers
• Have 3 types
a) Plastic  pails, bottles, plastic bags
b) Synthetic rubber  tyres, soles of shoes,
rubber pipes
c) Synthetic fibre  thread, rope, cloth
2) Synthetic polymer is produced from
connecting most of the small molecules or
monomers to form a long –chained molecules,
called polymer. This process is called
polymerisation.
 Comparing synthetic rubber with natural
rubber
SIMILARITIES
 Both are polymers and both can be
vulcanised
DIFFERENCES
NATURAL RUBBER DIFFERENCES SYNTHETIC RUBBER

LESS HEAT RESISTANT HEAT RESISTANCE HEAT RESISTANT

(TURNS STICKY WHEN
HEATED)

YES REACTS WITH CHEMICAL, NO

OIL AND ORGANIC
SOLVENTS
HIGH ABILITY TO ABSORB SOUND LOW

HIGH ABILITY TO ABSORB LOW

VIBRATION, SHOCK OR
PRESSURE
ELASTIC AND EASILY ELASTICITY AND ABILITY TO LESS ELASTIC AND
STRETCHED BE STRETCHED DIFFICULT TO BE
STRETCHED
Conclusion :
Synthetic rubber is a man-made rubber that
has similar characteristics as natural rubber.
ADVANTAGEs OF SYNTHETIC RUBBER
• Ability to withstand high temperature
• Does not react with chemical substances
• Not permeable to water and gas
• Not easily oxidised
• Hard and less elastic
• Withstand much more stretching
ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL RUBBER
• ABLE TO ABSORB SOUND, VIBRATION AND
PRESSURE
• HIGH ELASTICITY
• LOW INTERNAL HEAT EFFECT
 Plastics
• Type of synthetic polymer which consists of
carbon and non-metallic elements such as
hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine and chlorine
• Raw materials for making plastics usually
obtained from petroleum and natural gas.
• Two types of plastics
a) Thermoplastic
b) Thermoset
 Thermoplastic
• Thermoplastic molecules do not have CROSS
LINKAGE between the polymers, enabling them to
glide on top of one another easily when heated.
• This characteristic causes thermoplastic to become
soft and remouldable
Eg :
Polythene – make plastic bags
Perspex – make spectacles
Nylon
 Thermoset
• Thermoset molecules have CROSS LINKAGES between
polymers that obstruct the chains of polymers from
gliding on top one another when heated.
• The thermoset plastic’s shape cannot be changed,
after it has been moulded
Eg:
Bakelite – make electric plugs
Melamine – make crockeries
Epoxy glue
 Comparing thermoplastic and thermoset

SIMILARITY
Both of them is good electrical insulator.
DIFFERENCES
THERMOPLASTIC DIFFERENCES THERMOSET

LOW MELTING POINT HIGH

YES CAN BE MOULDED OR NO

RECYCLED
NO HAS SROSSLINKAGES YES
BETWEEN MOLECULES
MOSTLY DISSOLVE DISSOLVE IN ORGANIS DOES NOT DISSOLVE
SOLVENT
SOFTER HARDNESS HARDER

LOW RESISTANCE TOWARDS HIGH

SHOCK / VIBRATION
LOW HEAT RESISTANCE HIGH
 Potential uses of plastic
1) To substitute cardiac blood vessels that do
not function properly
2) To reconstruct facial structure that is
damaged in accidents
3) Used to substitute damaged human bone
parts such as the hips, knees and finger joints