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polymer, any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules, called macromolecules, that are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids.
What is the meaning of polymer chemistry?
Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the chemical synthesis, structure, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules.
What is polymer and examples?
Polymer is a substance made up of a large number of smaller molecules that link together to form larger molecules. An example of a synthetic polymer is plastic. An example of a natural polymer is rubber. noun.
What is meant by polymer meaning?
: a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units.
What is polymer give two examples?
Examples of naturally occurring polymers are silk, wool, DNA, cellulose and proteins. In our previous section on network polymers, we mentioned vulcanized rubber and pectin. Vulcanized rubber is a synthetic (man-made) polymer, while pectin is an example of a natural polymer.
What are 4 types of polymers?
Terms. Synthetic polymers are human-made polymers. From the utility point of view, they can be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and synthetic fibers.
Which is the best definition of polymer?
A polymer is a very large, chain-like molecule made up of monomers, which are small molecules. It can be naturally occurring or synthetic. Since poly- means “many,” a polymer means “many parts.” You’ll find polymers everywhere: they’re what make spandex stretch and sneakers bounce.
What are the 3 main types of polymers?
There are 3 principal classes of polymers – thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Differentiation between these classes is best defined by their behaviour under applied heat. Thermoplastic polymers can be either amorphous or crystalline. They behave in a relatively ductile manner but often have low strength.
What is the sample polymer used?
Synthetic polymers are prepared by a chemical reaction, often in a lab. Examples of synthetic polymers include PVC (polyvinyl chloride), polystyrene, synthetic rubber, silicone, polyethylene, neoprene, and nylon. Synthetic polymers are used to make plastics, adhesives, paints, mechanical parts, and many common objects.
What are two types of polymers?
Polymers are of two types: naturally occurring and synthetic or man made.
What’s another word for polymer?
In this page you can discover 16 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for polymer, like: nanocomposites, thermoplastic, semiconductor, coating, , polymeric, polymers, elastomer, , nanoparticles and nanostructures.
Which is an example of a biological polymer?
They are produced by polymerization, and occur either naturally or synthetically. Examples of natural polymers are cellulose, shellac and amber. Biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids play crucial roles in biological processes. A polymer produced by a living organism is called a biopolymer.
Is cotton a polymer?
Cotton is a polymer which is made up of cellulose. Cellulose is a carbohydrate which is also a polymer of repeated chains of glucose.
Where is polymer found?
Natural polymers include: Proteins, such as hair, nails, tortoiseshell. Cellulose in paper and trees. Starches in plants such as potatoes and maize. DNA. Pitch (also known as bitumen or tar) Wool (a protein made by animals) Silk (a protein made by insects) Natural rubber and lacquer (proteins from trees).
Is glycogen a natural polymer?
As a natural polysaccharide polymer, glycogen possesses suitable properties for use as a nanoparticle carrier in cancer theranostics. Not only it is inherently biocompatible, it can also be easily chemically modified with various moieties.
Is DNA a polymer?
And even our DNA is a polymer—it’s made of monomers called nucleotides. The first man-made polymers were actually modified versions of these natural polymers.
What is the function of polymer?
Organic polymers play a crucial role in living things, providing basic structural materials and participating in vital life processes. For example, the solid parts of all plants are made up of polymers. These include cellulose, lignin, and various resins.
What are the characteristics of polymer?
Some of the useful properties of various engineering polymers are high strength or modulus to weight ratios (light weight but comparatively stiff and strong), toughness, resilience, resistance to corrosion, lack of conductivity (heat and electrical), color, transparency, processing, and low cost.
What are the classification of polymers?
The most common way of classifying polymers is to separate them into three groups – thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. The thermoplastics can be divided into two types – those that are crystalline and those that are amorphous.
Is PVC a polymer?
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used polymers in the world. Due to its versatile nature, PVC is used extensively across a broad range of industrial, technical and everyday applications including widespread use in building, transport, packaging, electrical/electronic and healthcare applications.
What is a polymer in plastic?
A polymer is a chemical compound that contains a large number of identical molecular repeating units. A plastic material is a polymer, typically modified with additives, which can be molded or shaped under reasonable conditions of pressure and temperature.
What is the formula of polymer?
Some Common Addition Polymers Name(s) Formula Monomer Polyethylene high density (HDPE) –(CH 2 -CH 2 ) n – ethylene CH 2 =CH 2 Polypropylene (PP) different grades –[CH 2 -CH(CH 3 )] n – propylene CH 2 =CHCH 3 Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) –(CH 2 -CHCl) n – vinyl chloride CH 2 =CHCl Poly(vinylidene chloride) (Saran A) –(CH 2 -CCl 2 ) n – vinylidene chloride CH 2 =CCl 2.
What is the difference between a polymer and a plastic?
Polymers can exist organically or be created synthetically, and consist of chains of joined individual molecules or monomers. Plastics are a type of polymer composed of chains of polymers which can be partially organic or fully synthetic.
Is plastic a polymer?
Plastics are a group of materials, either synthetic or naturally occurring, that may be shaped when soft and then hardened to retain the given shape. Plastics are polymers. A polymer is a substance made of many repeating units.
What is a polymer melt?
Polymer melts are solvent-free, viscoelastic liquids consisting of entangled macromolecules with a monomer volume fraction ηm=πρmb3/6 comparable with that of simple liquids.
What are polymers and its types?
Commercial Uses of Polymers Polymer Monomer Uses of Polymer Rubber Isoprene (1, 2-methyl 1 – 1, 3-butadiene) Making tyres, elastic materials BUNA – S (a) 1, 3-butadiene (b) Styrene Synthetic rubber BUNA – N (a) 1, 3-butadiene (b) Vinyl Cyanide Synthetic rubber Teflon Tetra Flouro Ethane Non-stick cookware – plastics.
Where are polymers used?
Polymers are used in almost every area of modern living. Grocery bags, soda and water bottles, textile fibers, phones, computers, food packaging, auto parts, and toys all contain polymers. Even more-sophisticated technology uses polymers.