Give some uses of polymers. (2024)

FAQs

Give some uses of polymers.? ›

Product made from polymers are all around us: clothing made from synthetic fibers, polyethylene cups, fiberglass, nylon bearings, plastic bags, polymer-based paints, epoxy glue, polyurethane foam cushion, silicone heart valves, and Teflon-coated cookware.

Polymers make up many of the materials in living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids. Moreover, they constitute the basis of such minerals as diamond, quartz, and feldspar and such man-made materials as concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers.

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.

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Classified as the most common plastic in the world, polyethylene has an even broader range of uses in the modern world. In fact, this material is so diverse that it takes on other subcategories labeled high-density and low-density to better classify their differences.

Synthetic polyamides are commonly used in textiles, automotive industry, carpets, kitchen utensils and sportswear due to their high durability and strength. The transportation manufacturing industry is the major consumer, accounting for 35% of polyamide (PA) consumption.

Natural polymers have been widely used in a variety of biomedical applications such as pharmaceuticals, tissue regeneration scaffolds, drug delivery agents, and imaging agents. In wound care, they are used as dressings for acute or chronic wounds and as regeneration templates.

Types of polymers. There are several types of polymers. Among the main ones are: natural, synthetic, addition, condensation and rearrangement.

The eight most common types of synthetic organic polymers, which are commonly found in households are: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) High-density polyethylene (HDPE) Polypropylene (PP) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Let's zoom in and look at this process in a bit more detail, using the formation of polyethylene as an example. Polyethylene is the simplest synthetic polymer. It's made up of just one kind of monomer—ethylene, which is made of two carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms.

What is a polymer used for making? ›

The polymer used in making handles of cookers and frying pans is Bakelite. It is also used in making switches, combs etc.

Polymers help us to save energy, with lighter vehicles and insulated buildings; package consumable goods; reduce land use and fertilisers, thanks to synthetic fibres; preserve other materials using coatings; and save lives by way of countless medical applications.

The term polymer is a composite of the Greek words poly and meros, meaning “many parts.” Polymers are large molecules made of small, repeating molecular building blocks called monomers. The process by which monomers link together to form a molecule of a relatively high molecular mass is known as polymerization.

Many people think of polymers simply as plastics used for packaging, in household objects and for making fibres, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Areas in which polymers are important include: Kitchen applications and food. Medical products for wound care, dentistry and in contact lenses.

The cellulose in vegetables and grains is the fiber in our foods. We can't digest it, but it's good for us because it helps keep our insides clean. Cellulose and starches are both made from sugars - so they're called polysaccharides (meaning "many sugars"). Another useful natural polymer produced by plants is rubber.

They include plastics, rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers, adhesives, foams, paints and sealants. Well established applications of polymers in construction include areas such as flooring, windows, cladding, rainwater, pipes, membranes, seals, glazing, insulation and signage.