A manufacturer needs a polymer for a rack that carries components through a heating chamber at 170 °C. The rack must remain rigid in the chamber. The manufacturer would also prefer waste offcuts to be melted and remoulded.
| Sample | Polymer structure | Behaviour at 170 °C |
|---|---|---|
| A | Separate, tangled polymer chains with weak forces between the chains | Softens and loses its shape |
| B | Polymer chains joined by strong cross-links | Remains rigid and keeps its shape |
Evaluate the suitability of samples A and B. Use polymer structure and bonding in your answer. Recommend which sample the manufacturer should use.
118 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 10.3 Using materials, covering 10.3.1 Corrosion and its prevention, 10.3.2 Alloys as useful materials, and 10.3.3 Ceramics, polymers and composites. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.