Polymers have for too long been an integral part of our everyday lives a case in point that examples are available almost ubiquitously. We are apt to have the feeling that leads us to trust that polymers are merely plastics used for packaging, in household objects and then for making fibres, however this is the tip in the iceberg.

Polymers are utilized in many applications you do not have thought much about. This blog enlightens you about the story behind polymers and exactly how it’s evolved ever since to offer several functions across a number of industries.
Origin of polymer science
Humans took advantage of the versatility of polymers for hundreds of years by means of oils, tars, resins and gums. However, it had not been before the industrial revolution the polymer industry began to develop. In reality, the birth of polymer science might be traced time for the mid-nineteenth century. In the 1830s, Charles Goodyear developed the vulcanization process that transformed the sticky latex of natural rubber right into a useful elastomer for tire use. In 1909, Leo Hendrik Baekeland designed a resin from two very common chemicals, phenol and formaldehyde. The response between both of these chemicals paved the way to add mass to a resin, called Bakelite, named after him. It absolutely was this resin that served like a harbinger to many people in the common polymers that we use today. The term “polymer” hails from the Greek roots “poly” and “mer,” which put together means “many parts.” Polymeric substances consist of numerous chemical units called monomers, that are joined together into large molecular chains consisting of a huge number of atoms.
Classification of polymers
Based on their origin, acrylic sheet can be classified as natural or synthetic polymers. Natural polymers are those polymers that occur in nature understanding that that are isolated from plant and animal resources. Starch, cellulose, proteins, natural rubber etc. are several examples of natural polymers. Though they’re processed to have the product, considering that the basic material comes from a natural source, these polymers are called as natural polymers. Natural rubber received from tree latex is actually a polymer made out of isoprene units which has a portion of impurities inside.
On this context, biopolymers will also be significant. There exists large number of biopolymers for example polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides. They may be naturally manufactured by microorganisms. The genetic manipulation of microorganisms makes method for enormous possibility of the biotechnological creation of biopolymers with tailored properties suitable for high-value medical application for example tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Synthetic polymers, as his or her name indicates, are synthesized from the laboratory or factory by having a compilation of chemical reactions from low molecular weight compounds. In the functional point of view they are often classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and synthetic fibres. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is certainly one such thermoplastic manufactured by the polymerization in the monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). PMMA is frequently called acrylic plastic and lends its properties into a selection of consumer product applications. Being both a thermoplastic and transparent plastic, acrylic is used extensively from the automotive industry in trunk release handles, master cylinder, and dashboard lighting. Consumer goods that have a constituent part of acrylic plastic include aquariums, motorcycle helmet lenses, paint, furniture, picture framing, and umbrella clamps, amongst others.
A few of the other synthetic polymers that we use in our everyday life include Nylons, found in fabrics and textiles, Teflon, found in non-stick pans and Polyvinyl Chloride, found in pipes.
Being a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to help you out in understanding its properties like a synthetic polymer. To understand more, find us here.
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