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11
COPOLYMERS
• Crosslinking is a way of introducing stiffness into a polymer by bonding chains
together. In the case of natural rubber the
process is called
Vulcanization (sulfur, D )
(C. Goodyear, 1839)
- changes soft, reactive
cis-polyisoprene into
5% cross-linked flexible,
resilient, stable rubber.
FG12_017 FG12_017
• Plasticizers are low MW
cmpds added to a polymer to soften it
eg. PVC = pipes  PVC +plasticizer = gumboots
• Copolymers are polymers that are formed
from 2 different monomers. eg. Nylon 66
(adipic acid + hexamethylenediamine+
Phthlalate esters
DEHP (DiEthylHexylPhthalate)