2003 AIPMT PolymersAddition polymers - polyacrylonitrile Easy Question 2 of 2 in Addition polymers - polyacrylonitrile

Acrilan is a hard, horny and a high melting point material. Which of the following represents its structure :

A -
B -
C -
D -

The answer is A.

Solution

Acrilan (also called orlon) is polyacrylonitrile (PAN), an addition polymer of acrylonitrile (vinyl cyanide), $CH_2=CH-CN$.
$n\,CH_2=CH-CN \xrightarrow{peroxide\ catalyst} [-CH_2-CH(CN)-]_n$
The strongly polar CN groups give strong intermolecular forces, which make the polymer hard, horny and high melting. It is used as a substitute for wool.
$[-CH_2-C(CH_3)(COOC_2H_5)-]_n$ is an ester polymer of the methacrylate type, $[-CH_2-CH(COOC_2H_5)-]_n$ is poly(ethyl acrylate), and $[-CH_2-CH(Cl)-]_n$ is PVC.
So the structure of acrilan is $[-CH_2-CH(CN)-]_n$.

Concept Structure of polyacrylonitrile

Addition polymers - polyacrylonitrile in past papers

2 questions from this chapter have appeared across 2 exam years.