Materials Research and Technology

Polymer

Polymer, any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of veritably large motes, called macro molecules that are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up numerous of the accoutrements in living organisms, including, for illustration, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids. Product made from polymers are all around us: clothing made from synthetic fibers, polyethylene cups, fiberglass, nylon bearings, plastic bags, polymer-based paints, epoxy glue, polyurethane foam cushion, silicone heart valves, and Teflon-coated cookware. The list is almost endless.

•  Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)
• Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)

 By definition, polymers are large molecules made by bonding (chemically linking) a series of building blocks. The word polymer comes from the Greek words for “many parts.” Each of those parts is scientists call a monomer (which in Greek means “one part”). Think of a polymer as a chain, with each of its links a monomer.