Polymers have for too long been an integral part of our everyday lives a case in point that examples can be found almost ubiquitously. We generally have an impact which leads us to trust that polymers are only plastics useful for packaging, in household objects and for making fibres, however, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Polymers are widely-used in all sorts of applications you will possibly not have thought much about. This web site enlightens you concerning the story behind polymers and exactly how it’s evolved since to offer several functions across quite a few industries.
Origin of polymer science
Humans have advantage of the versatility of polymers for years and years in the form of oils, tars, resins and gums. However, it was not before the industrial revolution the polymer industry started to realize. In fact, the birth of polymer science could be traced returning to the mid-nineteenth century. In the 1830s, Charles Goodyear developed the vulcanization method that transformed the sticky latex of natural rubber in to a useful elastomer for tire use. In 1909, Leo Hendrik Baekeland created resin from two quite normal chemicals, phenol and formaldehyde. The response between these chemicals paved the way to build up a resin, called Bakelite, named after him. It had been this resin that served like a harbinger to many of the common polymers that people use today. The saying “polymer” comes from the Greek roots “poly” and “mer,” which build means “many parts.” Polymeric substances consist of several chemical units called monomers, which are gathered into large molecular chains made up of thousands of atoms.
Classification of polymers
On the basis of their origin, sumitomo chemical asia might be viewed as natural or synthetic polymers. Natural polymers are the types polymers that occur in nature understanding that which are isolated from plant and animal resources. Starch, cellulose, proteins, natural rubber etc. are a few samples of natural polymers. Though they’re processed to get the end result, considering that the basic material develops from a natural source, these polymers are called as natural polymers. Natural rubber originating from tree latex is basically a polymer created from isoprene units with a portion of impurities inside.
Within this context, biopolymers will also be significant. There’s vast number of biopolymers for example polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides. They may be naturally produced by microorganisms. The genetic manipulation of microorganisms makes opportinity for enormous prospect of the biotechnological output of biopolymers with tailored properties well suited for high-value medical application for example tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Synthetic polymers, as his or her name indicates, are synthesized within the laboratory or factory by way of a series of chemical reactions from low molecular weight compounds. In the functional viewpoint they could be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and artificial fibres. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is certainly one such thermoplastic produced by the polymerization of the monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). PMMA is commonly called acrylic plastic and lends its properties to a selection of consumer product applications. Being both a thermoplastic and transparent plastic, acrylic is used extensively within the automotive industry in trunk release handles, master cylinder, and dashboard lighting. Consumer products that have a constituent portion of acrylic plastic include aquariums, motorcycle helmet lenses, paint, furniture, picture framing, and umbrella clamps, and others.
A number of the other synthetic polymers that people use within our everyday life include Nylons, found in fabrics and textiles, Teflon, found in non-stick pans and Polyvinyl Chloride, found in pipes.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to help you in understanding its properties like a synthetic polymer. To find out more, get in touch with us here.
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