Uses of Polymers

Polymers are materials that are made up of long, repeating chains of molecules. The properties of the materials vary depending on the type of molecules bound and how they are attached. Rubber and polyester are two examples of polymers that bend and stretch. Others, like epoxies and glass, are robust and durable.

Polymers are present in nearly every area of modern life. Most people have come into contact with at least one polymer-containing object in the last five minutes, from water bottles to gadgets to tyres.

Plastics, which are man made polymers, are frequently referred to as polymers. Natural polymers, on the other hand, do exist; rubber and wood, for example, are natural polymers made up of a simple hydrocarbon.

Polymerisation

Polymerization is the process of making synthetic polymers by joining smaller molecules, known as monomers, into a chain held together by covalent bonds. According to Scientific American, certain chemical reactions, such as those generated by heat and pressure, modify the chemical bonds that hold monomers together. Polymers are formed as a result of the process, which leads the molecules to link in a linear, branching, or network structure.

These monomer chains are also known as macromolecules. The backbone of most polymer chains is a string of carbon atoms. According to the Polymer Science Learning Center, a single macromolecule can contain hundreds of thousands of monomers.

Polymer applications

Because different polymers have distinct properties, they can be used in a variety of ways. The following are some instances from the table:

Polymers have features that are determined by the chemicals used and the conditions under which they are created.

Poly(ethene) is divided into two types: LDPE (low-density poly(ethene) and HDPE (high-density poly(ethene) (ethene). LDPE is a weaker version of HDPE that softens at lower temperatures.

Polymers of today are extremely beneficial. They can be employed as novel packaging materials, for example.

• In the packaging sector, polystyrene is one of the most commonly used plastics. Polystyrene is used in disposable glasses, bottles, toys, containers, trays, plates, television cabinets, and lids, among other dairy items. It can be used as an insulator as well.

• The production of sewage pipes is a critical application for polyvinyl chloride. In electric cables, it can also be employed as an insulator.

• Furniture and apparel are made of polyvinyl chloride, which has recently gained popularity in the building of doors and windows. It is suitable for use in vinyl flooring.

• Molds, adhesives, laminated sheets, unbreakable containers, and other items are made with urea-formaldehyde resins.

• Paints, metal coatings, and lacquers are all made with glyptal.

• Bakelite is used to make switches, household products, toys, jewellery, weapons, insulators, computer discs, and other electrical appliances.

Other important uses include

Plastic Wrapping

Plastic wrap was originally manufactured of polyvinylidene chloride (PVC). Most cling wrap brands nowadays are made of PVC/polyvinyl chloride or low-density polyethylene (LDPE), two long polymers having firmly bonded and coiled chains of molecules. A plastic wrap created from these polymers sticks well and blocks moisture and aromas because of the tight molecular link and spring-like nature of the chains.

Although it’s not commonplace for plastic wrap manufacturers to add stickiness-enhancing chemicals to the base PVC or LDPE formulations, these polymers are sticky in their own right and don’t require an additional static charge to improve adhesion.

Shape-memory polymer

Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are polymeric smart materials that have the ability to return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape when induced by an external stimulus (trigger), such as temperature change.

SMPs can hold two or three forms at a time, with temperature causing the transition between them. SMP shape change can be driven by an electric or magnetic field, light, or a solution, in addition to temperature change. SMPs, like polymers in general, have a wide range of properties, ranging from stable to biodegradable, soft to hard, elastic to rigid, and so on, depending on the structural units that make up the SMP. Thermoplastic and thermoset (covalently cross-linked) polymeric materials are examples of SMPs. SMPs are known to be capable of memorising up to three different shapes. SMPs have shown that over 800 percent of stresses can be recovered. 

Shape Memory Polymer Actuators

The shape-memory function can also be created as a reversible effect that allows for actuation behaviour via macroscale deformation and processing, specifically by dictating the macromolecular orientation of actuation units and the skeleton structure of geometry-determining units in polymers. Shape-memory polymers may be reprogrammed to take on any shape. Recovery and actuation behaviour can both be customised.

Conclusion

Polymers are macromolecules that are created by the covalent bonding of monomer units. Polymers are employed in practically every aspect of life, including apparel, plastics production, industrial applications, medical, dentistry, and so on. Polymers are utilised in a variety of industries based on their physical and chemical qualities, such as strong ropes used to transport weights in factories and building sites. Polymers’ properties, such as tensile strength, strain, elasticity, and toughness, determine their use.