Lesson plan
Depolymerizable polymers
Depolymerizable polymers or Low-Ceiling Temperature Polymers refer to polymeric materials that can undergo depolymerization to revert the materials to their monomers at relatively low temperatures, such as room temperature. For example, the ceiling temperature T c for formaldehyde is 119 °C, and that for acetaldehyde is -39 °C. Unlike stable polymers such as PVCs that have high thermal stability, depolymerizable polymers and closely related self-immolative polymers can be triggered by stimuli to break fast under moderate to low temperatures. The first type of polymers, poly (olefin sulfone), was reported by Snow and Frey in 1943. It was further confirmed and explained in terms of the thermodynamics of a reversible propagation step by Dainton and Ivin. Closely related to depolymerizable polymers, self-immolative polymers can also irreversibly disassemble into their constituent parts in response to stimuli such as temperature, biological inputs or pH.
Article summary
Depolymerizable polymers or Low-Ceiling Temperature Polymers refer to polymeric materials that can undergo depolymerization to revert the materials to their monomers at relatively low temperatures, such as room temperature. For example, the ceiling temperature T c for formaldehyde is 119 °C, and that for acetaldehyde is -39 °C. Unlike stable polymers such as PVCs that have high thermal stability, depolymerizable polymers and closely related self-immolative polymers can be triggered by stimuli to break fast under moderate to low temperatures. The first type of polymers, poly (olefin sulfone), was reported by Snow and Frey in 1943. It was further confirmed and explained in terms of the thermodynamics of a reversible propagation step by Dainton and Ivin. Closely related to depolymerizable polymers, self-immolative polymers can also irreversibly disassemble into their constituent parts in response to stimuli such as temperature, biological inputs or pH.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.