What are polymers in simple words?

What are polymers in simple words?

A polymer is any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules, called macromolecules, which are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in living organisms and are the basis of many minerals and man-made materials.

What is polymer material example?

Examples of synthetic polymers include nylon, polyethylene, polyester, Teflon, and epoxy. Natural polymers occur in nature and can be extracted. They are often water-based. Examples of naturally occurring polymers are silk, wool, DNA, cellulose and proteins.

What is a polymer and what is it used for?

The polymers, a word that we hear about it a lot, is very vital and one cannot imagine the life without it. Polymers, a large class of materials, consist of many small molecules named monomers that are linked together to form long chains and are used in a lot of products and goods that we use in daily life.

Who first used term polymer?

Jöns Jakob Berzelius
As noted in an earlier column, the term “polymer” (from the Greek polys meaning “many” and meros meaning “part”) was first introduced in 1833 by the Swedish chemist, Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1, 2).

How many types of polymers are there?

Polymers are of two types: naturally occurring and synthetic or man made.

What is a polymer made of?

A polymer is made up of a number of joined-together monomers. One way of thinking about polymers is like a chain of connected-up paperclips. A polymer is a large molecule made up of smaller, joined-together molecules called monomers.

Who is the father of polymers?

Herman Francis Mark, (born May 3, 1895, Vienna, Austria—died April 6, 1992, Austin, Texas, U.S.), Austrian American chemist who, although not the world’s first polymer chemist, was known as the father of polymer science because of his many contributions to polymer science education and research.

Who invented polymer?

The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm’s offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory.

What is the strongest polymer?

The strongest polymer on Earth

• Thermal stability: Zylon’s melting point is above 1470° Fahrenheit (780°C).
• Super strength: Zylon is 1.6 times stronger than Kevlar.
• Flame resistance: Zylon resists combustion, requiring conditions above 68% oxygen.

What is classification of polymers?

Based on molecular forces, polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, thermoplastics, and thermosetting polymers.

Why are plastics called plastics?

Plastic is a word that originally meant “pliable and easily shaped.” It only recently became a name for a category of materials called polymers. The word polymer means “of many parts,” and polymers are made of long chains of molecules.

What is the chemical formula for plastic?

The generalized chemical formula of this plastic can be written as (C2H4)n. The density of polyethylene can range from 0.88 grams per cubic centimetre to 0.96 grams per cubic centimetre.