Polymer
Monomer, a small repeating sub unit organized together by covalent bond made large bulky molecule which is called polymer of that molecule.
Examples of Polymer
A few example of our daily used polymer is given below
- Plastic bags:
- Clothing:
- Water bottles:
- Rubber bands:
- Adhesives:
- Contact lenses:
- Paint:
Plastic bags:
Plastic bags are composed of synthetic polymer a polyethylene.
Clothing:
Multiple textile stuff, such as
- Nylon
- and polyester, are made from synthetic polymers.
Water bottles:
water bottles are polymer of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
Rubber bands:
Natural rubber, which is a polymer made rubber band.
Adhesives:
Adhesives, such as glue and tape, are composed of synthetic polymers.
Contact lenses:
Contact lenses such as silicone and hydrogels are made of polymer.
Paint:
Many paints are composed of synthetic polymers, which give it a properties such as
- Durability
- and flexibility.
Classification of polymer
polymers could be classified in many ways some of these are given below:
Natural vs. synthetic:
Thermoplastics vs. thermosets:
Addition vs. condensation polymers:
Linear vs. branched:
Copolymers:
Natural vs. synthetic:
Polymers could be classified as natural or synthetic.
Natural polymers are those that present naturally in living organisms, such as
- Proteins
- DNA
- and cellulose.
Synthetic polymers, on the other hand, are composed by humans through chemical reactions.
Thermoplastics vs. thermosets:
Another type of polymer classification is thermoplastics or thermosets.
- Thermoplastics can be heated and re-molded many times,
- while thermosets are attained their shape and could not be reverse back after they are molded.
Addition vs. condensation polymers:
Polymers can also be classified based on their way of preparation.
- Addition polymers are prepared by the addition of monomers with double bonds
- while condensation polymers are built up through the removal of small molecules, such as wateror alcohol, during polymerization.
Linear vs. branched:
Polymers can also be classified based on their structural organization.
- Linear polymers have a single, unbranched chain of monomers,
- while branched polymers have many chains that branch out from the main chain.
Copolymers:
Copolymers are polymers built up of more than two different kinds of monomers. They can be classified based on the arrangement of the monomers within the polymer chain, such as
- Alternating
- Random
- or block copolymers.