"A polymer is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules called macromolecules..."
The wide range of practical applications for polymers, including packaging, textiles, adhesives, and biomedical materials.
Polymerization: This topic covers the key concepts of polymerization such as addition, condensation, homopolymerization, and copolymerization.
Types of Polymers: This topic explains the different types of polymers, such as thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and fibers.
Polymer Structures: This topic covers the primary, secondary, and tertiary structures of polymers. It also includes the stereochemistry and tacticity of polymers.
Properties of Polymers: This topic covers the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymers, along with their viscoelasticity and rheological properties.
Polymer Characterization: This topic involves the techniques used to study the structure and properties of polymers, such as thermal analysis, spectroscopy, microscopy, and chromatography.
Polymer Processing: This topic covers the different techniques used to process polymers such as extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, and thermoforming.
Polymer Blends and Composites: This topic covers the mixing of different types of polymers to create a new material with improved properties. It also includes the mixing of polymers with other materials, such as fibers, ceramics, or metals.
Polymer Applications: This topic covers the diverse applications of polymers in various industries such as healthcare, aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics.
Polymer Degradation and Stabilization: This topic covers the various factors that affect polymer degradation and the methods used to stabilize them against degradation.
Environmental Issues: This topic covers the environmental impact of polymers, such as their biodegradability, disposal, and recycling. It also discusses the various global initiatives to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
Plastics: Polymer materials that can be easily molded into different shapes and used for various applications.
Synthetic fibers: Manufactured fibers that are created from polymers and used in the production of apparel, home furnishings, and industrial fabrics.
Rubber: Polymers that provide flexibility and elasticity, commonly used in tires, seals, and other applications that require durability.
Adhesives: Polymers that create a strong bond between surfaces and are used in various industries such as construction, automotive, and packaging.
Coatings: Polymers that protect surfaces from corrosion, UV damage, and other harmful effects.
Composites: Materials made from two or more different polymers, used for applications such as aircraft, boats, and wind turbine blades.
Biopolymers: Polymers derived from renewable resources such as plants and animals, used in various industries including food packaging, agriculture, and medicine.
Electronics: Polymers used in the manufacture of electronic devices such as circuit boards, sensors, batteries, and displays.
Pharmaceuticals: Polymers used in drug delivery systems, implants, and other medical applications.
Nanotechnology: Polymers used in the creation of nanoscale materials and devices, used in applications such as electronics, energy, and medicine.
"Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins..."
"Polymers, both natural and synthetic, are created via polymerization of many small molecules, known as monomers."
"Their consequently large molecular mass, relative to small molecule compounds, produces unique physical properties including toughness, high elasticity, viscoelasticity, and a tendency to form amorphous and semicrystalline structures rather than crystals."
"The term 'polymer' derives from the Greek word πολύς (polus, meaning 'many, much') and μέρος (meros, meaning 'part')."
"The term was coined in 1833 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius..."
"The modern concept of polymers as covalently bonded macromolecular structures was proposed in 1920 by Hermann Staudinger..."
"Polymers are studied in the fields of polymer science (which includes polymer chemistry and polymer physics), biophysics and materials science and engineering."
"Historically, products arising from the linkage of repeating units by covalent chemical bonds have been the primary focus of polymer science."
"An emerging important area now focuses on supramolecular polymers formed by non-covalent links."
"Polyisoprene of latex rubber is an example of a natural polymer..."
"The polystyrene of styrofoam is an example of a synthetic polymer."
"In biological contexts, essentially all biological macromolecules—i.e., proteins (polyamides), nucleic acids (polynucleotides), and polysaccharides—are purely polymeric..."
"...proteins (polyamides)..."
"...nucleic acids (polynucleotides)..."
"...polysaccharides..."
"Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life."
"...unique physical properties including toughness, high elasticity, viscoelasticity, and a tendency to form amorphous and semicrystalline structures rather than crystals."
"Polymer science (which includes polymer chemistry and polymer physics), biophysics, and materials science and engineering."
"Their consequently large molecular mass, relative to small molecule compounds, produces unique physical properties..."