Synthetic polymer
Encyclopedia
Synthetic polymers are often referred to as "plastic
s", such as the well-known polyethylene
and nylon
. However, most of them can be classified in at least three main categories: thermoplastic
s, thermosets and elastomer
s.
They are not limited to having carbon backbones, elements such as silicon
form familiar materials such as silicones. Coordination polymers may contain a range of metals in the backbone, with non-covalent bonding present.
Man-made polymers are used in a wide array of applications: food packaging, paper, films, fiber
s, tubing, pipes, etc. The personal care industry also uses polymers to aid in texture of products, binding, and moisture retention (e.g. in hair
gel
and conditioners).
The seven most common types of synthetic polymers, which are commonly found in households are:
Low Density Polyethylene(LDPE),
High Density Polyethylene(HDPE),
Polypropylene(PP)
Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC)
Polystyrene(PS)
Nylon , nylon 6 , nylon 6,6
Teflon(Poly tetra polyethylene)
thermoplastic polyurethanes(TPU)
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
s", such as the well-known polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
and nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
. However, most of them can be classified in at least three main categories: thermoplastic
Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic, also known as a thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that turns to a liquid when heated and freezes to a very glassy state when cooled sufficiently...
s, thermosets and elastomer
Elastomer
An elastomer is a polymer with the property of viscoelasticity , generally having notably low Young's modulus and high yield strain compared with other materials. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, although the latter is preferred...
s.
They are not limited to having carbon backbones, elements such as silicon
Silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. A tetravalent metalloid, it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon, the nonmetal directly above it in the periodic table, but more reactive than germanium, the metalloid directly below it in the table...
form familiar materials such as silicones. Coordination polymers may contain a range of metals in the backbone, with non-covalent bonding present.
Man-made polymers are used in a wide array of applications: food packaging, paper, films, fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
s, tubing, pipes, etc. The personal care industry also uses polymers to aid in texture of products, binding, and moisture retention (e.g. in hair
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
gel
Gel
A gel is a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state...
and conditioners).
Inorganic examples
- Polysiloxane
- PolyphosphazenePolyphosphazenePolyphosphazenes are a class of inorganic polymers with the repeat unit . The substituents R,R' are usually alkoxy, amino, , or halogens ....
The seven most common types of synthetic polymers, which are commonly found in households are:
Low Density Polyethylene(LDPE),
High Density Polyethylene(HDPE),
Polypropylene(PP)
Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC)
Polystyrene(PS)
Nylon , nylon 6 , nylon 6,6
Teflon(Poly tetra polyethylene)
thermoplastic polyurethanes(TPU)
Brand names
These polymers are often better known through their brand names, for instance:- Bakelite, i.e. phenol-formaldehyde resin
- KevlarKevlarKevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
, TwaronTwaronTwaron is the brandname of Teijin Aramid for a para-aramid. It is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibre developed in the early 1970s by the Dutch company AKZO, division Enka, later Akzo Industrial Fibers. The research name of the para-aramid fibre was originally Fiber X, but it was soon...
, i.e. para-aramidAramidAramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"... - Kynar, i.e. PVDF
- Mylar, i.e. polyethylene terephthalatePolyethylene terephthalatePolyethylene terephthalate , commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination...
film - NeopreneNeopreneNeoprene or polychloroprene is a family of synthetic rubbers that are produced by polymerization of chloroprene. Neoprene in general has good chemical stability, and maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range...
i.e. Polychloroprene - NylonNylonNylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
, i.e. polyamideNylonNylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
6,6 - Orlon, i.e. polyacrylonitrile
- Rilsan, i.e. polyamide 11Polyamide 11Polyamide 11 or Nylon 11 is a polyamide bioplastic derived from vegetable oil. It is produced by Arkema under the tradename Rilsan from castor beans. PA 11 is not biodegradable....
& 12 - TechnoraTechnoraTechnora is an Aramid that is useful for a variety of applications that require high strength or chemical resistance. It is a brandname of the company Teijin.-Production:...
, i.e. copolyamidAramidAramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"... - TeflonPolytetrafluoroethylenePolytetrafluoroethylene is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that finds numerous applications. PTFE is most well known by the DuPont brand name Teflon....
, i.e. PTFE - Ultem, i.e. polyimidePolyimidePolyimide is a polymer of imide monomers. The structure of imide is as shown. Polyimides have been in mass production since 1955...
- VectranVectranVectran is a manufactured fibre, spun from a liquid crystal polymer created by Celanese Acetate LLC and now manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. Chemically it is an aromatic polyester produced by the polycondensation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid.- Properties...
, i.e. aromatic polyamidePolyamideA polyamide is a polymer containing monomers of amides joined by peptide bonds. They can occur both naturally and artificially, examples being proteins, such as wool and silk, and can be made artificially through step-growth polymerization or solid-phase synthesis, examples being nylons, aramids,... - VitonVitonViton is a brand of synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer commonly used in O-rings and other molded or extruded goods. The name is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers L.L.C.....
, i.e. poly-tetrafluoroethyleneVitonViton is a brand of synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer commonly used in O-rings and other molded or extruded goods. The name is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers L.L.C..... - ZylonZylonZylon is a trademarked name for a range of thermoset liquid crystalline polyoxazole...
, i.e. poly-p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole (PBO)ZylonZylon is a trademarked name for a range of thermoset liquid crystalline polyoxazole...