Question

Polystyrene can be made more rigid by polymerizing with divinylbenzene (shown below). How does the divinylbenzene make the polymer more rigid? (2 Marks)

Answer 1

Divinylbenzene forms bonds with two polystyrene chains at once and chemical cross-link occurs. Chemical cross-linking makes it more difficult for the polymer chain segments to move. Therefore, the cross-linked polymer is more rigid.