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Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers01:00

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers

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Polymers that are made up of identical monomer units are called homopolymers. Only one repeating unit is involved in the construction of the homopolymer structure. For example, as depicted in Figure 1, polypropylene is a homopolymer constituted of propylene monomers. Here, the only repeating unit in the polymer chain is propylene.
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Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Plasticizers01:31

Plasticizers

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Water-reducers, or plasticizers, are chemical admixtures used in concrete to improve strength and workability. These additives reduce the water-cement ratio without compromising workability, lower the cement content while maintaining the same workability, or increase workability to assist concrete placement in inaccessible areas.
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...
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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
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Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids.

Helene Wiesinger1, Zhanyun Wang1, Stefanie Hellweg1

  • 1Chair of Ecological Systems Design, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.

Environmental Science & Technology
|June 22, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Chemicals in plastics pose risks throughout their lifecycle. This study identified over 10,000 substances, with 2,400 flagged as potentially harmful due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT).

Keywords:
chemical inventorycircular economyplastic pollutionplastic productsplasticizersproduction volumeregulatory statussubstances of concern

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Chemicals are integral to plastic production and can leach throughout a plastic's lifecycle.
  • Potential risks extend to human health, environmental integrity, and recycling processes.
  • A significant knowledge gap exists regarding the full spectrum of chemicals used and their impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically identify and categorize chemical substances used in plastics globally.
  • To assess the hazard profiles of these substances, focusing on persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT).
  • To highlight data gaps and regulatory deficiencies concerning plastic-associated chemicals.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of 63 industrial, scientific, and regulatory data sources.
  • Identification and categorization of plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids.
  • Hazard assessment based on European Union PBT criteria and available study data.

Main Results:

  • Over 10,000 unique chemical substances associated with plastics were identified.
  • More than 2,400 substances meet PBT criteria, indicating potential concern.
  • Many identified substances lack sufficient study (266), adequate regulation (1,327), or are approved for food-contact (901).

Conclusions:

  • A vast number of chemicals in plastics are understudied, poorly regulated, and potentially hazardous.
  • Significant data gaps hinder a complete understanding of chemical risks in plastics.
  • Transitioning to a circular plastic economy requires addressing hazardous chemical use and improving information accessibility.