Other
American Chemistry Council: History of Polymers & Plastics for Teachers
This resource presents a teacher guide that offers information on the history, structure, characteristics, forms, and common uses of plastics and polymers.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Make Slime
Step-by-step instructions, with photos, of how to create slime made of polymer chains using Borax and white glue.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Plastic Polymers: Building a Model
Students will use their prior knowledge about changes of matter including physical and chemical changes from the Houghton Mifflin science curriculum. Students will create a hypothesis to test the physical properties of materials such as...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Focus on Fabrics: Putting Materials to Good Use
The goal is for students to understand the basics of engineering associated with the use, selection, and properties of fabrics. A wide variety of natural and synthetic fibers are used in our clothing, home furnishings and in our travel...
Science Struck
Science Struck: Properties and Uses of Polypropylene
Discusses properties, uses, and facts about polypropylene.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Properties of Polystyrene
Explains what polystyrene is and its many different properties and uses.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Polymers: Comparing Two Liquid Glue Based Polymers
For this experiment, students will work in small groups to create two different polymers, similar to Flubber and Silly Putty, using Elmer's glue, liquid laundry starch, and Borax. They will then compare the properties of the two...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Where in the World Can I Find Plastic Polymers. Why Are They Used?
An investigation of where plastic polymers can be found in everyday life. After identifying them, students test them to learn about their properties, then try some online activities.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Polymers & Plastics: Classification & Models
Young scholars will use their prior knowledge about changes of matter including physical and chemical changes to examine and categorize various types of plastics (polymers). They will identify how their chemical properties allow them to...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Polymers: The Discovery
A simple lab activity which introduces the field of polymer chemistry. Includes the use of polystyrene in a neat reaction.
Chiral Publishing
Chiral Publishing: An Introduction to Chemistry: Organic Chemistry/biochemistry/synthetic Polymers Study [Pdf]
Use this site to get an overview of organic chemistry, biochemistry, and synthetic polymers. Also includes an answer key to the chapter review questions and links to online quizzes.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Everyday Polymers
Young scholars explore the chemical identities of polymeric materials frequently used in their everyday lives. They learn how chemical composition affects the physical properties of the materials that they encounter and use frequently,...
US Department of Energy
U.s. Department of Energy: Fuel Cell Technologies Program: Fuel Cell Animation
A series of animated illustrations show how a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell works. PEM fuel cells are the most common type used in flex-fuel vehicles.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Optimization of Slime
Using their knowledge of the phases of matter, the scientific method, and polymers, student teams work as if they are chemical engineers to optimize the formula for slime. Hired by the fictional company, Slime Productions, students are...
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania: Solid State Chemistry: Describing Crystalline Solids
This site contains in-depth information on crystalline solids. Includes basic concepts, pictures, learning graphs, and useful tools.
Other
Polythene: Production and Properties & Uses
A wonderful site for information on polythene. Contains a table of information for high density and low density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) which tells melting point, uses, chemical properties, and more for each. Also contains the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Battle of the Beams
Students explore the properties of composites using inexpensive materials and processing techniques. They create beams using Laffy Taffy and water, and a choice of various reinforcements (pasta, rice, candies) and fabricating...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Plastic Polymers: Investigating Their Flexibility
Young scholars will use their prior knowledge about changes of matter to develop a hypothesis to test the physical properties of materials such as plastic (polymers) and how its chemical properties allow it to have unique physical...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Roy J. Plunkett
Read about Roy Plunkett's invention, teflon, one of the best-known and most widely used polymers that was created by accident.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Leo Baekeland
Use this site to learn about how Leo Baekeland invented plastic, and how this simple invention resulted in a "plastic revolution."
York University
Chemistry Hall of Fame: Polyethylene a Plastic of Many Uses
Background information on the discovery of polyethylene is found on this website. Also lists polyethylene's many uses.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Creepy Silly Putty
Students learn about viscoelastic material behavior, such as strain rate dependence and creep, by using silly putty, an easy-to-make polymer material. They learn how to make silly putty, observe its behavior with different strain rates,...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Rubber
Wikipedia provides detailed information on rubber, a hydrocarbon polymer. Includes information on the composition and uses of rubber.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Fuel Cell
A detailed Wikipedia encyclopedia article on fuel cells explains what they are, the controversies in the use of hydrogen as a fuel, and practical problems. There is also a lengthy section on the five generally recognized types of fuel...