How does a polymer break down?

Answer 1

You can break it mechanically or chemically.

It can be broken mechanically by applying pressure to the polymer through grinding or some other method of reducing particle size, and it can be broken chemically by heat or by reacting with the polymers' active groups.

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Answer 2

Ruby Allen

Polymers can break down through various mechanisms, including hydrolysis, oxidation, photodegradation, and biodegradation. Hydrolysis involves the cleavage of chemical bonds by water molecules. Oxidation occurs when polymers react with oxygen, leading to bond breakage. Photodegradation involves the breakdown of polymers by exposure to light, which can induce bond cleavage. Biodegradation is the breakdown of polymers by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, which metabolize the polymer into simpler compounds.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.