3.8.7

Adhesive & Conducting Polymers

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Adhesive & Conducting Polymers

Some polymers can act as non-solvent based adhesives. Some are able to conduct electricity.

Illustrative background for Non-solvent based adhesivesIllustrative background for Non-solvent based adhesives ?? "content

Non-solvent based adhesives

  • Many adhesives are dissolved in a solvent. The solvent then evaporates after the adhesive is applied.
    • This allows the solvent to set.
  • Polymers can act as non-solvent based adhesives.
  • Examples include epoxy resins and superglue.
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Epoxy resins

  • There are lots of different varieties of epoxy resins.
  • Most epoxy resins work by mixing one species with an acidic -OH group and one species with an epoxy group together.
    • The structure of an epoxy group is shown on this slide.
  • Once the two species are mixed together, crosslinks between them form. These crosslinks are strong and form the basis of how epoxy resins function as adhesives.
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Superglue

  • Superglue often consists of ethyl cyanoacrylate monomers.
  • When superglue is applied to a surface, water vapour in the air nucleophilically attacks the -CH2 group of the monomers.
  • This generates a new nucleophile. The now nucleophilic monomer intermediate can attack neighbouring methyl 2-cyanoprop-2-enate monomers.
    • So, water vapour triggers a polymerisation event in superglue. This polymerisation sets the glue.
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Conducting polymers

  • Polyacetylene is a polymer than can conduct electricity. It has the repeating unit (C2H2)n.
  • This means it is made of alternating single and double carbon bonds.
  • Double bonds are formed by the overlapping of p-orbitals.
  • When many double bonds are repeated along a carbon chain, all of the p orbitals can overlap. This forms a delocalised system of electrons along the whole molecule.
    • This is what happens in polyacetylene. The delocalised system of electrons allows polyacetylene to conduct electricity.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

1.1Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2Atomic Structure

1.3Chemical Bonding

1.4States of Matter

1.5Chemical Energetics

1.6Electrochemistry

1.7Equilibria

1.8Partition Coefficient

1.9Reaction Kinetics

2Inorganic Chemistry

3Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2Hydrocarbons

3.3Halogen Derivatives

3.4Hydroxy Compounds

3.5Carbonyl Compounds

3.6Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7Nitrogen Compounds

3.8Polymerisation

3.9Analytical Techniques

3.10Organic Synthesis

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