Polymer properties and processes | Design and technology

Starter quiz

Where are most polymers sourced from?
- 'petrochemicals' ✓
Polymers can be categorised as __________.
- alloys
- thermoforming ✓
- acrylic
- thermosetting ✓
- polythene
Polymer products are often stamped with this symbol, why?
- They are sustainable.
- The are environmentally safe.
- They can be recycled. ✓
- They can be reused.
Why are single use polymers like drinking straws discouraged?
- They create waste. ✓
- They can cause pollution on land and oceans. ✓
- Animals can get stuck in or try to eat them. ✓
- Businesses have to buy more.
Why are saucepan handles made from a thermosetting polymer?
- It will not deform near heat source. ✓
- It's a thermal insulator. ✓
- It does not conduct heat, so it's safe to hold. ✓
- It cannot be moulded.
Match the products to the thermoforming polymer which it is made from.
- acrylic
  
  ⇔
  
  menu stand in a restaurant ✓
- high-density polyethylene
  
  ⇔
  
  polymer milk bottle top ✓
- low-density polyethylene
  
  ⇔
  
  carrier bags ✓
- nylon
  
  ⇔
  
  clothing ✓

Match the four stages of sourcing and creating polymers to their explanations.
- extraction
  
  ⇔
  
  obtaining the fossil fuels from within the earth's crust ✓
- refinement
  
  ⇔
  
  converting the fossil fuels into useful materials ✓
- cracking
  
  ⇔
  
  breaking down the material into smaller more manageable molecules ✓
- polymerisation
  
  ⇔
  
  creating long chains of monomers ✓
Explain the term fractional distillation.
- separating component parts of a mixture ✓
- creating greenhouse gases
- breaking components into smaller molecules
- joining many molecules
Materials that are not naturally occurring and need to be manufactured by humans are called ...
- 'synthetic' ✓
What are the properties of polypropylene?
- flexible ✓
- good electrical conductivity
- good chemical resistance ✓
- elastic
- good heat and freeze resistance ✓
What kind of process is injection moulding?
- reforming ✓
- deforming
- fabrication
- wasting
The advantages of injection moulding are:
- Complex shapes can be made. ✓
- The moulds are a specialist job which takes time.
- It features high-speed production. ✓
- There are expensive set up costs.
- Large quantities of identical products can be made. ✓

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There are four main stages in the sourcing of polymers: extraction, refinement, cracking and polymerisation.
There is an environmental impact to extracting and processing polymers.
Polypropylene is suitable for kitchen products. It is tough, flexible, food safe and has good corrosion resistance.
Injection moulding is suitable for complex shapes, high volume production and can be automated.

All polymers are non biodegradable and can last for hundreds of year.

Polymers come in many forms including biodegradable and bio-based polymers that will break down more easily in the environment.

Synthetic - manufactured, not naturally occuring
Biodegradable - decays naturally
Fractional distillation - separating component parts of a mixture
Polymerisation - chemically combining small molecules called monomers to form long chain structures called polymers