Synthetic polymers environment

In addition to an array of experimental methods, we also consider a more diverse assortment of polymeric systems than has been true in other chapters. Besides synthetic polymer solutions, we also consider aqueous protein solutions. The former polymers are well represented by the random coil model the latter are approximated by rigid ellipsoids or spheres. For random coils changes in the goodness of the solvent affects coil dimensions. For aqueous proteins the solvent-solute interaction results in various degrees of hydration, which also changes the size of the molecules. Hence the methods we discuss are all potential sources of information about these interactions between polymers and their solvent environments. 

The use of flame retardants came about because of concern over the flammabiUty of synthetic polymers (plastics). A simple method of assessing the potential contribution of polymers to a fire is to examine the heats of combustion, which for common polymers vary by only about a factor of two (1). Heats of combustion correlate with the chemical nature of a polymer whether the polymer is synthetic or natural. Concern over flammabiUty should arise via a proper risk assessment which takes into account not only the flammabiUty of the material, but also the environment in which it is used. 

Thickeners. Thickeners are added to remover formulas to increase the viscosity which allows the remover to cling to vertical surfaces. Natural and synthetic polymers are used as thickeners. They are generally dispersed and then caused to swell by the addition of a protic solvent or by adjusting the pH of the remover. When the polymer swells, it causes the viscosity of the mixture to increase. Viscosity is controlled by the amount of thickener added. Common thickeners used in organic removers include hydroxypropylmethylceUulose [9004-65-3], hydroxypropylceUulose [9004-64-2], hydroxyethyl cellulose, and poly(acryHc acid) [9003-01-4]. Thickeners used in aqueous removers include acryHc polymers and latex-type polymers. Some thickeners are not stable in very acidic or very basic environments, so careful selection is important. 

The use of casein plastics was severely curtailed with the development of synthetic polymers, particularly after the Second World War. In addition stricter regulations concerning health and safety at work will have caused attention to be drawn to the formolising process. In the experience of the author the environment surrounding the formolising baths is most unpleasant and this will have accelerated the demise of the casein manufacturing industry. 

Most of the plastics and synthetic polymers that are used worldwide are produced from petrochemicals. Replacing petroleum-based feedstocks with materials derived from renewable resources is an attractive prospect for manufacturers of polymers and plastics, since the production of such polymers does not depend on the limited supply of fossil fuels [16]. Furthermore, synthetic materials are very persistent in the environment long after their intended use, and as a result their total volume in landfills is giving rise to serious waste management problems. In 1992,20% of the volume and 8% of the weight of landfills in the US were plastic materials, while the annual disposal of plastics both in the US and EC has risen to over 10 million tons [17]. Because of the biodegradability of PHAs, they would be mostly composted and as such would be very valuable in reducing the amount of plastic waste. 

Many synthetic polymers, including most plastics, do not degrade in the environment. What can be done with plastic and other polymer waste ... 

While the specific chemistry and physics dealing with synthetic polymers is complicated, the chemistry and physics of natural polymers is even more complex because of a number of related factors, including (1) the fact that many natural polymers are composed of different, often similar but not identical, repeat units (2) a greater dependency on the exact natural polymer environment (3) the question of real structure of many natural polymers in their natural environment is still not well known for many natural polymers and (4) the fact that polymer shape and size are even more important and complex in natural polymers than in synthetic polymers. 

These proteins are often globular in shape so as to offer a different look or polar nature to their outside. Hydrophobic residues are generally found in the interior while hydrophilic residues are found on the surface interacting with the hydrophilic water-intense external environment. (This theme is often found for synthetic polymers that contain both polar and nonpolar portions. Thus, when polymers are formed or reformed in a regular water-filled atmosphere, many polymers will favor the presence of polar moieties on their surface.)... 

Biodegradable polymers, both synthetic and natural, have gained more attention as carriers because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability and therewith the low impact on the environment. Examples of biodegradable polymers are synthetic polymers, such as polyesters, poly(orfho-esters), polyanhydrides and polyphosphazenes, and natural polymers, like polysaccharides such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid and alginates. 

This description of the behavior of polyethylenimines demonstrates that it is possible to construct synthetic polymers with traits analogous to those of enzymes. The essential structural features in the effective polymers are high local density of functional groups and hydrophobic apolar domains of submicroscopic size, all embedded in a gossamerlike mac-romolecular framework readily permeated by the aqueous solvent. Such structures can be catalytically effective under ambient conditions, that is, at room temperature and pressure in aqueous environments near physiological pH 7. 

The solubility of polymers is, for thermodynamic reasons, more restricted than the solubility of low-molecular compounds and, consequently, the choice of solvents is limited. Potential solvents for most synthetic polymers are of moderate polarity. Alcohols and liquids of similar polarity are precipitants for many synthetic polymers. The search for a mobile phase that enables RPC through solvophobic interactions between the polymer and the nonpolar stationary phase requires attempts to make the mobile phase an unfavorable environment for the solute. This easily conflicts with the narrow limits of solubility of the polymer under investigation. Solubility effects are known to occur even in low-molecular RPC 92 94), but in polymer RPC they even may govern retention. 

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