Polymer

Polymer

A Polymer is a large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of many repeated subunits, known as monomers. Due to their broad range of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure and function.

Structure

Polymers are studied in the fields of biophysics and macromolecular science, and polymer science (which includes polymer chemistry and polymer physics). Historically, products arising from the linkage of repeating units by covalent chemical bonds have been the primary focus of polymer science.

Types of polymers

Polymers are of two types: naturally occurring and synthetic or man made.

Natural polymer

Natural polymers such as rubber and silk are present in plants and animals. They are often water-based. Examples include starch, which is used in paper manufacture, and cellulose, the main constituent of wood and paper.

Synthetic polymers

Synthetic polymers are those which are human-made polymers. They can be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and synthetic fibers. They are commonly found in a variety of consumer products such as money, adhesive, non-stick coating, and paint.

Properties

Polymers have unique properties depending on the types and arrangement of monomer units. The properties can be tailored to meet specific needs. They can be both thermal and electrical insulators and have varying degrees of flammability. They have a high resistance to impact, are lightweight, and have significant chemical resistance.

Applications

Polymers are used in many industries for a wide range of applications. In the automotive industry, they are used in car parts. In the medical field, they are used in devices such as heart valves and contact lenses. In the construction industry, they are used in items such as pipes and insulation.

See also

• Monomer
• Biopolymer
• Elastomer
• Thermoplastic
• Thermosetting polymer