Question

Write difference between low and high-density polymers.

Answer 1

Hint The low-density polymer is used in squeeze bottles, toys, and flexible pipes, and it is also known as transparent polymer whereas high-density polymer is used in housewares, buckets, etc, and it is known as a translucent polymer.

Complete step by step answer:
Polymers are those compounds that are made up of a huge number of monomers and these polymers are made by two processes i.e., addition polymerization and condensation polymerization. Based on the density of the polymers they are divided into two parts:
(i)- Low-density polymers: The process by which the low-density polymers is a free radical mechanism in which the initiator is oxygen or peroxide.
The density of the low-density polymer is low and it is equal to 0.92 $g/c{{m}^{3}}$ .
The melting point of the low-density polymers is also low and it is equal to 384 K.
It is a transparent polymer.
The tensile strength of LDP is moderate but the toughness is high.
It is slightly flexible and it is chemically inert. It cannot conduct electricity. The low-density polymer is used in squeeze bottles, toys, and flexible pipes.
(ii)- High-density polymers: The process by which the high-density polymers is coordination polymerization.
The density of the high-density polymers are high and it is equal to 0.97 $g/c{{m}^{3}}$ .
The melting point of the high-density polymers is also high and it is equal to 403 K.
It is a translucent polymer.
It has high tensile strength, toughness, and also hardness.
The high-density polymers are used in housewares, buckets, etc.

Note: Polyethene which is made from coordination polymerization has higher density than polyethylene which is made from a free-radical mechanism. In both the polymer, addition polymerization takes place i.e., there is no loss of molecules.