Nomenclature of polymers on the basis of source and trade.

Source Based nomenclature of polymers

1) Homopolymers.

Homopolymers are made of only one type  of monomers. Homopolymers are named on the name of the monomers i.e source from which it is derived.

For example; Poly( methyl methacrylate), Polyethylene etc.

Compound for example in case of Poly(vinyl oxirane), it indicates two structure.

In such case class name: monomer name is given to clarify.

In case of Homopolymer with no locants, the monomer name is used without any brackets. For example 'Polystyrene'. Some more examples are given below.

                   

                                           

2) Copolymers.

Copolymers are made of more than one type of monomers. Copolymers are name using qualifiers. A qualifier may be a connective between monomers (c) or a prefix(P).

Given below table is qualifiers for Copolymers.

Qualifiers for Copolymers.

For example; poly(styrene-co-isoprene), polystyrene-graft-poly(ethylene oxide).

Note: The qualifiers should be in small letters.     

 3) Non Linear Polymers.   

  The qualifiers for non Linear Copolymers are given below.

Qualifiers for non linear copolymers.

For example; cyclo-polystyrene-graft-polyethylene, polystyrene-comb-polyisoprene.

Trade based nomenclature of polymers or trade names.

Trade names are given to describe specific materials manufacture by a specific company or under the license of that company.

1) Bakelite is the trade name for phenol formaldehyde condensation polymer given by Baekeland.

2) A sweater containing  Orlon as content contains poly(acrylonitrile).

3) Carina, Trulon, Velon, Opalon are trade name for Poly(vinyl chloride) manufacture by different companies.

4) Teflon is the trade name for Polytetrafluoroethylene given by DuPont. Next