Polymers

?What is a Polymer
Polymers are materials made of long, repeating chains of molecules.
The materials have unique properties, depending on the type of
molecules being bonded and how they are bonded. Some polymers
bend and stretch, like rubber and polyester. Others are hard and
tough, like epoxies and glass.
Polymers touch almost every aspect of modern life. Chances are
most people have been in contact with at least one polymer-
containing product — from water bottles to gadgets to tires — in the
last five minutes.
The term polymer is often used to describe plastics, which are
synthetic polymers. However, natural polymers also exist; rubber
and wood, for example, are natural polymers that consist of a simple
hydrocarbon, isoprene. Proteins are natural polymers made up of
amino acids, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are polymers of
nucleotides — complex molecules composed of nitrogen-containing
bases, sugars and phosphoric acid, for example

Types of polymers
There are two types of polymers: Natural polymers and synthetic
polymers.
Natural polymers can be found in nature without human
intervention. Examples of natural polymers include: silk, wool, DNA,
cellulose and proteins.

Synthetic polymers are polymers made in labs by scientists and

engineers. Examples of synthetic polymers include: nylon(commonly
used as a substitute for silk) , polyethylene(it's the most common
plastic in the world), polyester(commonly used in clothing,
Teflon(polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly used in non-stick
cookware due to it's hydrophobic properties)

Manipulating the properties of synthetic polymers

different monomers can be mixed in various proportions resulting in
a wide range of physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. The
monomers can be produced pure and the addition of impurities or
.additives can be controlled by design to give optimal properties

One of the earliest techniques used by scientist in the early to middle

20th century (after the discovery of polymers) to try and bring out
new and different properties was to change the substituents on the
ethylene monomer

this method is still in use to this day

 .A brief history on the first synthetic polymer
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley
Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm’s offer of $10,000 for
anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. The growing
popularity of billiards had put a strain on the supply of natural ivory,
obtained through the slaughter of wild elephants. By treating
cellulose, derived from cotton fiber, with camphor, Hyatt discovered
a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to
imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.

This discovery was revolutionary. For the first time human

manufacturing was not constrained by the limits of nature. Nature
only supplied so much wood, metal, stone, bone, tusk, and horn. But
now humans could create new materials. This development helped
not only people but also the environment. Advertisements praised
celluloid as the savior of the elephant and the tortoise. Plastics could
protect the natural world from the destructive forces of human
need.

The creation of new materials also helped free people from the
social and economic constraints imposed by the scarcity of natural
resources. Inexpensive celluloid made material wealth more
widespread and obtainable. And the plastics revolution was only
getting started.

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