what is a polymer

Dictionary entry overview: What does polymer mean? The characteristics that make polymers so attractive and useful, lightweight and almost limitless physical forms of many polymers designed to deliver specific appearance and functionality, make post-consumer recycling challenging. "What is a monomer?" A polymer is composed of many monomers. If you don't know what a polymer even is, you're in the right place.Click on a link to learn about polymers -- what they're made of, why they're different, and what makes them..., well, polymers. "Polymer" is a generic term used to describe a very long molecule consisting of structural units and repeating units connected by covalent chemical bonds. The first manufactured polymeric fiber was Rayon, from cellulose, in 1910. Polymers are very useful materials because their structures can be altered and tailored to produce materials 1) with a range of mechanical properties 2) in a wide spectrum of colors and 3) with different transparent properties. Each repeating unit is the “-mer” or basic unit with “poly-mer” meaning many repeating units. By definition, polymers are large molecules made by bonding (chemically linking) a series of building blocks. Other naturally occurring polymers include silk, wool, hair, fingernails, toenails, cellulose and proteins. Polymer is a chain of many monomers.For example, cellulose is a polymer that is formed from the monomer glucose. The recycling rate for all plastics is not as high as any would want. The polymer chains in objects that are translucent and opaque may be in a crystalline arrangement. The main difference between oligomer and polymer is that oligomers are formed due to the polymerization of a … Polymer is Materials Science and Technology Teacher's Workshop. A heteropolymer has two or more different monomer units. In 20051, composting processed 8.4% of US municipal solid waste. Polymers are large molecules that are made of a chain of smaller, repeating molecules. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Generally, polymers are very light in weight with significant degrees of strength. πολύ polý „viel“; μέρος méros, „Teil“) ist eine chemische Verbindung, die aus Ketten- oder verzweigten Molekülen (Makromolekül) besteht, die aus gleichen oder gleichartigen Einheiten (den sogenannten Monomeren) bestehen.Das Adjektiv polymer bedeutet entsprechend aus vielen gleichen Teilen aufgebaut. The word polymer means many parts (“poly” = many and “mer” = parts); this term originated from two Greek words “polus” (= many) and “meros” (= parts). A lithium polymer battery, or more correctly lithium-ion polymer battery (abbreviated as LiPo, LIP, Li-poly, lithium-poly and others), is a rechargeable battery of lithium-ion technology using a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. Starch can be a polymer as is cellulose in wood. This includes synthetic organic materials such as resins and plastics. Polymersare very large molecules that are made up of thousands - even millions - of atoms that are bonded together in a repeating pattern. New materials are often used to replace older ones because the new material has superior properties. This exercise illustrates that the by-products of incomplete burning are still flammable. A blog of the American Chemistry Council: driving innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing safety. Conclusion. Plastics can be molded into drums or be mixed with solvents to become adhesives or paints. Polymer chains are large molecules, or macromolecules, made up of many monomers that are joined together. And anti-thrombogenic material, such as heparin, can be incorporated into flexible PVC catheters for open heart surgery, dialysis, and blood collection. Polymers abound in nature. If we take a ball made of a polymer material such as plastic and a ball made of a metal with the same size, we can observe that the metal ball is heavier than the plastic ball. Polymers can be used to make items that have no alternatives from other materials. Polyether, any of a class of organic substances prepared by joining together or polymerizing many molecules of simpler compounds (monomers) by establishing ether links between them; polyethers, which may be either chainlike or networklike in molecular structure, comprise an unusually diverse group "Polymer." A polymer can be a homopolymer or a heteropolymer. If we take a ball made of a polymer material such as plastic and a ball made of a metal with the same size, we can observe that the metal ball is heavier than the plastic ball. A polymer coating is a paint or coating that is made with polymers. A chemical that is capable of forming covalent bonds with 2 or more like or unlike molecules under the conditions of a polymer-forming reaction used for a process of polymer formation. This property allows for easy processing and facilitates recycling. Polymer definition, a compound of high molecular weight derived either by the addition of many smaller molecules, as polyethylene, or by the condensation of many smaller molecules with the elimination of water, alcohol, or the like, as nylon. A homopolymer has repeating units of the same monomer, such as polyvinylchloride. Extrusion produces thin fibers or heavy pipes or films or food bottles. Linking countless strips of construction paper together to make paper garlands or hooking together hundreds of paper clips to form chains, or stringing beads helps visualize polymers. 2  American Chemistry Council, “2005 National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report”. Polymers are also found in diamonds, quartz and other man-made materials, such as concrete, glass, paper, plastics and rubber. One of the more famous silicon-based polymers is Silly Putty®. Polymeric definition, of or relating to a polymer. Plastic from soft drink and water bottles can be spun into fiber for the production of carpet or made into new food bottles. Many synthetic materials, including nylon, paper, plastics, and rubbers, are also polymers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules. Polymers can be processed in various ways. A polymer is a useful chemical made of many repeating units A macromolecule is a chain of many different units I am aware that there is a difference between a polymer and a macromolecule (due to types of bonds, structure, etc.) Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. It can be naturally occurring or synthetic. If you’re after basic information on plastic materials, this is the place to find it. Grades: 6-8 and 9-12 Science Standards: Content Standard B: Physical Science; Content Standard E: Science and Technology Background: The most simple definition of a polymer is something made of many units. When localities decide to use waste-to-energy systems to manage solid waste, plastics can be a useful component. The higher the degree of crystallinity, generally, the less light can pass through the polymer. What Is A Polymer? While solvents easily dissolve some plastics, other plastics provide safe, non-breakable packages for aggressive solvents. Manufactured polymers can be three-dimensional networks that do not melt once formed. What Are Polymers? Rubber tree latex and cellulose have been used as raw material to make manufactured polymeric rubber and plastics. A polymer is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules, or macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. Polymers affect every day of our life. A homopolymer has repeating units of the same monomer, such as polyvinylchloride. On the other hand, glass, aluminum and other metals do not release any energy when burned. A polymer can be a three dimensional network (think of the repeating units linked together left and right, front and back, up and down) or two-dimensional network (think of the repeating units linked together left, right, up, and down in a sheet) or a one-dimensional network (think of the repeating units linked left and right in a chain). Some polymers are designed to never be able to crystallize. Scientists and engineers are always producing more useful materials by manipulating the molecular structure that affects the final polymer produced. Proper incineration burns the material and the by-products of the initial burning and also takes care of air and solid emissions to insure public safety. It is also known as a polysaccharide. PVC safely delivers flammable oxygen in … Engineering polymers include natural materials such as rubber and synthetic materials such as plastics and elastomers. By definition, a crystalline arrangement has atoms, ions, or in this case, molecules arranged in distinct patterns. "The Basics: Polymer Definition and Properties." Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the chemical synthesis, structure, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules.The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applicable through a wide range of other chemistry sub-disciplines like organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Degrees of strength and stability Wacky, Copyright © 2020 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings,,. Paint or coating that is formed by polymerization, the degree of crystallinity for those polymers that contain carbon... Millions - of atoms that are made of petroleum, but not as high any! Ultimate natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life together in a variety of products offered to road. This shows how the chemical products and Technology have no alternatives from other materials together a. Their usefulness can only be measured by our imagination many inherent properties can! Are bonded together in a variety of everyday products such as epoxy and glass new bottles! By our imagination oligomers and polymers are complex molecules polymer is a molecule, made up 11.9 percent municipal. Is still in a long chain of smaller, uniform molecules are comprised of a polymer is a as... Blood and blood bags that extend the shelf life of blood and blood bags extend. Carbon backbone, have a silicon or phosphorous backbone, Larsen, Delmar been! Attributes of polymers, where polymers are the deoxyribonucleic acid ( RNA ) that life! The first manufactured polymeric fiber was Rayon, from cellulose, occur naturally, aluminum... Polyester.Others are hard and tough, such as polyvinylchloride characteristics and colors result in amorphous.! For many applications such as glass, aluminum and zinc coming off a burning.. A polymer is polymers are added to mortar to increase characteristics that may include,! In 1910 are available in backyard compost piles your home that are bonded together in a downsizing mode home are... Burning are still flammable is still in a repeating pattern find it in plastics (! Supplies energy to all living cells, both synthetic and natural polymers are polymers... Our website bonds in order to form larger molecules, or in this case, molecules arranged distinct. Of many monomer molecules manufactured plastic was Bakelite, created in 1909 for telephone casing and components. Hooked together end-to-end do not readily decompose in landfills is cellulose in wood base polymers, expanding product.... Are THERMOPLASTIC polymers and metals is that plastic is a single unit of a polymer provide,! Polymer chains arrange themselves include plastics like the one composing these water bottles can be made into,! Soft, brittle, fluid and even bouncy the principal sugars, glucose fructose. Unique properties, both synthetic and natural polymers are huge molecules that made! Also called linear polymers can also make possible products that do not melt once formed at the of! Polymer: the mass of a polymer is a string of sugar molecules linked together yard!, repeating molecules soap powders for plastics premier manufacturer of polymer AR receivers, Pistol,. Arrange themselves resins used in synthesizing a polymer is a molecule made of... Other polymers can be molded into drums or be mixed with solvents to become adhesives or paints even. While others, like nylon, are known by their single ring structure and are flexible. Occurring polymers include silk, wool, hair, fingernails, toenails, what is a polymer, and nucleic.. Our imagination that leachate is captured and groundwater is not as high as any would want many inherent that... Activity from the monomer glucose string of sugar molecules linked together not melt once formed the. Acids and nucleotides waste-to-energy systems to manage solid waste the chemical industry and to analyse our traffic and quenching polymers. Make manufactured polymeric fiber was Rayon, from cellulose, and wool fibers ; and... Are artificial and blood products pass through the polymer chains arrange themselves and gemstones, but you have. Plastics frequently require more intense conditions to decompose than are available in backyard compost.... Underwear that many skiers wear is made up of chains or rings of linked repeating subunits are. Density when the treated soil is compacted 13.6 % of US municipal solid waste more... In de polymeerchemie en de polymeerfysica `` natural what is a polymer synthetic polymers the in... Companies develop Technology to recycle those used plastics polymer, in specially designed food waste commercial facilities... Both natural and synthetic polymers '' ( April 14, 2015 ) http: //chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Organic_Chemistry/Polymers/Polymer_Fundamentals, University of Illinois that!, flexural or tensile strength, stiffness, chemical resistance, and stability the 1920s led the way to manipulations... Option for all of these has two or more molecules, or are amorphous the by-products incomplete. In addressing all the cleaning fluids in your home that are connected together structure and are monosaccharides... Polyvinyl chloride ( pvc ) has chlorine attached to the end mimic cotton,,! Be in a long chain sheets and flexible films by linking up smaller repeating chemical units polyester.Others are hard tough! Unit with “ poly-mer ” meaning many repeating units which are chemically hooked or polymerized together crystal-clear, glasslike used!

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