ARTICLE-"EVERYDAY MARVELS : THE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF POLYMER CHEMISTRY"

 

"EVERYDAY MARVELS : THE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF POLYMER CHEMISTRY"

Dilna Biju

St. Joseph College of Teacher Education For Women, Ernakulam

ABSTRACT

Polymer is now turning into an inevitable part of our existence that can not be replaced by means of every other material. Polymers are broadly used superior materials, which are discovered nearly in every cloth utilized in our each day existence. So far, the importance of polymers has been lots greater highlighted due to their applications in specific dominions of sciences, technology, and industry – from primary makes use of biopolymers and healing polymers. Polymers are very huge molecules, or macromolecules, formed by means of the union of many straightforward structural units, which typically are derived from monomers. Additionally, they are a great deal more analyzed with the aid of scientists nowadays as compared to the beyond as they are very important and there's no different molecule that can update them. This is because of the reality that they have got a huge utility in special aspects of sciences, technologies, and enterprise. The massive utility of these polymers has resulted in many environmental issues and worries and is likewise threatening every person’s fitness as a end result. this article portrays the critical application of polymers in our everyday lifestyles.

1. INTRODUCTION

 

Polymer Chemistry is a multidisciplinary technological know-how that arranges the compound aggregate and chemical houses of polymers.The polymers, a word that we hear about it a lot, may be very crucial and one can not believe the lifestyles without it. Polymers, a huge elegance of substances, include many small molecules called monomers which can be connected collectively to shape long chains and are utilized in quite a few merchandise and items that we use in everyday existence.For decades, people used polymers in their life but they did not realize it properly until global battle II. There have been highly few materials available for the manufacture of the thing wanted for a civilized lifestyle. metal, glass, wood, stone, brick, and urban for most of the construction and cotton, wood, jute, and a few different agricultural products for clothing or fabric manufacture have been used.The rapid increase in call for synthetic merchandise introduces the new substances. These new materials are polymers, and their effect on the existing way of lifestyles is nearly incalculable. Product crafted 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. The listing is nearly endless. Polymers permeate each component of day by day existence, and it is tough to assume a society without artificial and natural polymers. Almost all items that surround us are composed of polymers and examples encompass clothing, vehicle elements, medicinal drug coating, transportation, and buildings creation. in addition, polymers play a big position in the development of prescribed drugs, biomedicine, molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics. 

The phrase “polymer”, or now and again "macromolecule", is derived from classical Greek poly which means "many" and meres meaning "elements". The polymer molecule has very high molecular weight (between 10 000-one thousand 000 g/mol) and includes numerous structural devices usually certain together by way of covalent bonds.

Polymers are obtained via chemical response of monomers. Monomers have the capability to react with some other molecule from the equal type or another type in the appropriate circumstance to form the polymer chain. This method in nature has resulted in the formation of natural polymers, at the same time as the artificial polymers are man-made.Polymers were around us in the natural world from the very beginning (e.g., cellulose, starch, and herbal rubber). guy-made polymeric substances had been studied for the reason that in the middle of the nineteenth century. These days, the polymer industry has hastily advanced and is bigger than the copper, metal, aluminum and some other industries mixed.

2.KEYWORDS

Polymer

3. DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF POLYMERS

The phrase “polymer”, or from time to time "macromolecule", is derived from classical Greek poly that means "many" and meres which means "elements". The polymer molecule has very high molecular weight (between 10 000-1000 000 g/mol) and consists of several structural devices normally bound together by using covalent bonds.Polymers are received through chemical reaction of monomers. Monomers have the capability to react with any other molecule from the same kind or some other kind in the proper condition to shape the polymer chain. This technique in nature has resulted to the formation of herbal polymers, while the artificial polymers are man-made.

Polymers have been round us within the natural world because the very starting (e.g., cellulose, starch, and herbal rubber). guy-made polymeric materials have been studied since the middle of the 19th century. today, the polymer enterprise has hastily developed and is bigger than the copper, metallic, aluminum and a few different industries mixed.both natural and synthetic polymers are remarkably involved in consolation and facilitation of human existence and are responsible for existence itself, for medication, nutrition, verbal exchange, transportation, irrigation, container, clothing, recording records, buildings, highways, and many others. In reality, it's miles tough to assume human society with out synthetic and natural polymers. In our ever-increasing technological global, technological know-how performs a important role in providing solutions to critical troubles of meals, clean and ample water, air, electricity, and fitness. The information of polymers and related texts offer both the statistics and insights in their better know-how in our lifestyles. The information accrued from the basic science courses lead to information the polymers. This data consists of actual, theoretical, and sensible principles provided in science. it's far of use to individuals who want to be honestly properly knowledgeable, as well as to people who want to pursue medication, engineering, physics, chemistry, biomedical sciences, regulation, business, and many others. synthetic and natural polymers will be used in the shape of inorganic and organic polymers; coatings, elastomers, adhesives, blends, plastics, fibers, caulks, ceramics, and composites. The fundamental principles which might be implemented to at least one polymer category are implemented to all different classes together with some simple fundamental regulations. these basics are included into the fabric of the polymer texts.

On the basis of structure-LINEAR POLYMERS, BRANCHED POLYMERS, CROSS-LINKED POLYMERS

On the basis of molecular forces-Elastomers, Fibers, Thermoplastics, Thermosetting polymers

Thermoplastics: These are polymers that can be easily softened repeatedly when heated and hardened when cooled with little change in their properties. When heated due to the absence of cross-links, they become free to move and can be molded into any desired shape.EXAMPLES- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polystyrene and Polymethyl methacrylate

Thermosets:-These are the polymers that undergo permanent change on heating and can not be remolded into our desired shape. On heating, their cross-links get highly linked with each other and become hard and infusible. EXAMPLES-Bakelite, formaldehyde etc.

4. PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS:-

1.Tensile strength,Higher tensile strength holds a greater weight before snapping. Tensile strength increases with polymer chain length and crosslinking of polymer chains

2.Melting point

The term melting point when applied to polymers, suggests not a solid-liquid phase transition but a transition from a crystalline or semi-crystalline phase to a solid amorphous phase.

3.Boiling point

The boiling point of a polymeric material is strongly dependent on chain length. The polymers with a large degree of polymerization do not exhibit a boiling point because they are decomposed before reaching their respective theoretical boiling point.

5. COMMON POLYMERIC MATERIALS

5.1 PLASTIC 

Plastic  is  the  most  common  polymer  material  in everyday  life,  but  plastics  are  not  only  made  up  of polymer materials, to ensure the normal use of plastic, in the  manufacturing  process  it is also  necessary  to  add  a few  external  excipients  including lubricants,  stabilizers, colouring  agents,  et  al[3].  Packaging  bags,  snack  bags, and  so on  are  all  made  up  of plastic  and  can  be  seen everywhere.  Plastics  are  widely  used  in  everyday  life because  they  are lightweight  and do  not  change  shape with  temperature  change,  and  they  are  impermeable  to some degree to ensure the dryness of the contents of  the package. However, it should be noted that plastic cannot be  degraded,  which  brings  certain  harm  to  the  bad environment,  and,  once  burned,  plastic  will  produce  a large amount of  toxic gas, which  brings certain harm  to people's health. 

5.2 FIBRES

 Fibre is  another  commonly  used  polymer  material  in everyday applications. There are two categories of fibres: naturally occurring  cellulose and chemically synthesized cellulose.  Natural  cellulose  is  mainly  found  in  fruits, seeds, plant hairs,  and other cellulose-rich  vegetables in the  wild.  Chemical  cellulose  refers  to  products  made through  chemical  processing,  and  chemical  fibres  are often  used  in  the  textile  and  clothing  industries. Nowadays,  most  people's  clothing  is  made  from synthetic cellulose. 

5.3 POLYMER FILM

Polymer membranes have become essential  components in people's lives, promoting an increase in their standard of living. The SEM image of the polymer membranes.  By  using filtration,  polymer membranes allow  purification of water resources, which is important for  maintaining  the Fibre  freshness and purity of drinking  water.  This  plays  a  vital  role  in  safeguarding people's health by eliminating various harmful impurities present  in  water[4].  Moreover,  the  development  of polymer  membrane  technology  has  brought  about significant economic progress in China and increased the value of this technology

6. APPLICATIONS OF POLYMERS IN DAILY LIFE

6.1 Application of polymer materials in clothing

 Clothing is the oldest application of polymers in people's lives.  As  early  as  thousands of years  ago,  clothing  was made  using  animal  hair  for  warmth,  and  animal  hair  is currently  what  we  refer  to  as  fibre  polymer  material. With  the  continued  development  of  polymer  research and  development  technology,  people  are  now  reducing the  natural  polymer  cotton,  wool,  hemp,  and  so  forth from nature as the production  of  clothing  materials, the more  synthetic  means  of  natural  materials  are  used  for processing  and  manufacturing,  for  example,  most clothing worn by  people  is  made  from  synthetic  means of manufactured fibre, as small as the stockings we wear, as  large  as  the  winter  coats  we  wear,  and  so  on,  are inseparable from the polymer materials. Moreover, some of  the  attachments  on  people's  bodies  are  also inseparable from the polymer materials, such as artificial leather and plastic compound[5] shoes and belts; brooches, buttons, et  al. are  made from unsaturated polyester fibre in addition to artificial bead pigments.

6.2 Application of polymer materials in diet 

Polymeric materials are widely used in the food industry. Firstly,  we  consume  various  types  of  food,  such  as vegetables, meats, and staple foods, which are essentially made up of  polymers classified based on their molecular weight.  Secondly,  plastic takeaway  boxes  and  bags are popular in the food industry because they are lightweight, non-toxic,  and  inexpensive,  making  them  highly convenient  for people's daily diets[6]. Mineral water and snack  bags  are  also  commonly  produced  from  plastic. Overall,  it  is  clear  that  polymer  materials  are  closely intertwined  with  people's  dietary  habits,  and  as  such, they have significant impact on our daily lives.

6.3 Application of polymer materials in transportation 

With  the  advancement  of the  economy and technology, people  have  access  to  various  means  of  transportation. The  use  of  automobiles, planes, ships, trains, and other modes of transport has  significantly improved everyday life, and polymer materials  have  played  an  integral role in this industry.  For example, rubber  is used to  produce vehicle  tires  and  various  polymer  resins  are  used  for external paints. PVC plastic is used for flywheels and other  polymer  materials  are  used  throughout transportation  vehicles  to  enhance  their  efficiency[7]. This  highlights  how  polymer  materials  are  intertwined with the transportation industry and its ability to function effectively

6.4 Application of polymer materials in medical care

Polymeric materials play a crucial role in the medical field. Medical gauze is an essential tool in medical treatment, as it helps to stop bleeding, has anti-inflammatory effects, and isolates external microorganisms. Gauzes consist of fibres made of polymeric materials[8]. Engineered organs are also crucial for treating patients with defects or other medical complications, and such organs also rely on polymeric materials. Medical tools, devices, dressings, and other products are also made of polymer materials. These materials contribute to improving the medical environment and reducing patients' potential pain during treatment[9]. Overall, polymer materials play a vital role in the medical field, helping to enhance patient care and treating various medical conditions.

6.5 Other aspects

Polymer materials are an essential part of people's daily lives, appearing in various applications like clothing, food packaging, housing materials, and modes of transportation. They provide numerous benefits such as durability, flexibility, and light-weighting, that allow for unique design solutions and cost-effectiveness in many different industries. The widespread use of polymer materials highlights their importance in modern-day society. Additionally, they are used in the production of sports equipment, pavements, phones, computers, and other electronic devices—making it virtually impossible to go a day without interacting with polymer materials. The wide range of applications of polymer materials has brought exceptional convenience to people. Therefore, it is safe to say that polymer materials have become an essential part of human life in modern society.

7. SUMMARY& OUTLOOK 

A polymer is a big molecule together with many smaller subunits known as monomers. There are exceptional sorts of polymers and plenty of uses for them all. Even though human beings may not recognise it polymers play an important role in our regular life. Polymers variety from plastics, percent, and Styrofoam to key systems within the human body like DNA and proteins which might be key components to the human frame that makes it feasible for every one of us to stay and be particular. So without polymers in our body, we'd be useless, and without them in our society, it might be notably changed for the worse to say the least.Polymeric materials have become increasingly vital in modern-day living, bringing convenience and enhancing people's quality of life. These materials have contributed to economic development and advancements in science and technology in various countries. They possess unique properties that allow them to serve as a fundamental component in many different applications, ranging from consumer goods to high-tech industries. Therefore, it is essential to note the significant role that polymer materials play in society, from facilitating daily tasks to fuelling economic growth and scientific advancements. However, we cannot ignore the limitations of polymer materials. There is still a significant gap between the level of research in polymer materials in China and that in other countries. Moreover, research into polymer materials inevitably leads to pressure on natural resources and environmental protection. Therefore, more research and development of high-performance polymer materials is needed. We believe that with the continual improvement of China's national power, future polymer materials will be more intelligent, green, high-performance, and composite. This development will resolve the current issues and provide people with more practical applications. As researchers and developers in this field, we will continue to foster the study of materials and the physics of polymers. This will extend research ideas, improve R&D technology, and provide technical guidance for a more comprehensive development of polymer materials. In the near future, the potential for the development of polymer materials is enormous. Polymer materials will not only meet people's everyday needs but also provide supportive support to a variety of industries and promote the healthy development of each industry.

8. REFERENCES

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3. Zhou, P. (2015) The development and application of polymer materials J. Science and technology innovation and application, 123, 69.

4. Li, Y.Z., Zhao, X., Wang, H.X. (2022) Current status and development trend of polymer materials J. Chemical design communication, 48, 46-48.

5. Wang, R.H. (2021) Current status of research on functional polymer materials and their development prospects J. Modern Salt Chemicals, 48, 72-73.

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8. Sun, J.L. (2021) Research progress of conductive polymer materials J. Electrical Transmission Automation, 43, 49-51.