Polymer Research Paper

Polymers

Introduction:

Polymers are substances that are composed of subunits. The recurring subunits in polymers are termed as monomers. These monomer subunits are mostly large hence making polymer a macromolecule. Due to their diverse applications polymers are considered to be used a lot in our everyday life for example in adhesives or in rubber. The importance of polymers in nature can be found by their role in biology as DNA which is a macromolecule with repeating subunits. The process of polymers formation takes place when monomers react with each other and this process is termed as polymerization. Polymers can be three dimensional or two dimensional structures. The word polymer has been derived from Greek words i.e., poly and mers. Poly

Later on polymers were used by the humans as a resource of different basic requirements of a life such as clothing and shelter. After that the naturally occurring polymers were made more efficient by humans. Thomas Hancock modified the polymer rubber with the help of ceatrain additive in the ninetieth century. Charles Goodyear similarly improved the properties of natural polymer that is rubber with the help of the element Sulfur. After the improvement of natural polymers, efforts began to produce synthetic polymers. In the year 1909, first synthetic polymer known by the name Bakelite was prepared. After which another polymer was synthesized known as rayon in the year 1911. Since then polymers started to gain attention in the world. Another scientist Herman Staudinger described polymers in a new fashion by defining them as high molecular mass substances that are made up of subunits bonded covalently in the year 1919.

Classification:

Polymers being made up of large number of monomers are subjected to have various physical and chemical properties. On the basis of the diversity in their properties they are classified into different groups. Depending upon different basis for classification following are some of the groups of

Natural, semisynthetic and synthetic polymers:

The basis of classification for natural, synthetic and semisynthetic polymers is their origin. That means on basis of their occurrence in the world they are divided into three main categories.

Natural