Chapter 15. Polymers Chemistry Class 12 Chapter 15 Polymer Class 12 Chemistry | Page 19

When its solution in a suitable solvent is evaporated , it leaves a tough but non-flexible film . It is , therefore , used in the manufacture of paints and lacquers .
3 . Terylene ( Dacron ) It is a condensation product of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid .
Polymerisation is carried out at 420 to 460 K in the presence of catalyst mixture of zinc acetate and antimony trioxide .
Properties and uses
Terylene is highly resistant to the action of chemical and biological agents . Its fibres are quite strong and durable . It can also be blended with wool or cotton to obtain fabrics of desired composition .
Terylene is used in the manufacture of a variety of clothes such as terycot , terywool and terysilk as a result of blending with other yerns . It is also used for preparing magnetic recording tapes , conveyer belts , aprons for industrial workers etc .
Biopolymers and Biodegradable Polymers
Synthetic polymers are mostly non-biodegradable i . e ., it is very difficult to dispose off the polymeric waste , e . g ., polythene bags .
Nature has provided us a variety of polymers which can be produced by the biological systems in plants and animals . These are called biopolymers , e . g ., polysaccharides , proteins , nucleic acids , etc . In the biological system , these polymers decompose or hydrolyse in the Presence of different enzymes . This means that they are biodegradable .