... chains. They cannot fit closely together which results in a low density. 200 There are different forms of poly(ethene) which have different properties. These different properties are due to the fact that the structures of the poly(ethene)s are different. During one experiment (conducted by Karl Ziegler) to observe polymerisation there was nickel left in the reaction vessel that was not know about. The product was not a polymer but when the cause was discovered it lead to investigations about what would happen if different metals were added. They found that when ethene was passed in to a solution of triethylaluminium and a tiny amount of titanium(IV) the ethene readily polymerised. This polymer had different properties to the one first discovered. Its relative molecular mass, density, softening temperature and tensile strength were higher. Its wear properties were also more superior. This is due to the fact that these chains are not ...

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