Polymers :: essays research papers

Polymers are large molecules sedate of smaller molecules called monomers.Monomers are produced and either grow togetheror are assembled to produce a single polymer.There are synthetic and inborn polymers. Someexamples of natural polymers would be wood,starches, fingernails, and hair. Synthetic polymersare usually referred to as plastics. Petroleum, is theprimary monomer use to produce polymers. AnEnglish chemist named Alexander Parkes was the commencement scientist to produce the first synthetic polymerin 1862. John Wesley Hyatt, an American, wasthe first psyche to produce a useable polymer twoyears later. He named the crossroad celluloid. Theprime virtue of polymers is a highstrength-to-weight ratio. Industrial-strengthpolymers surpass te in tensile strength. Toadd strength and improve flexibleness, polymers aresometimes fortified with short-fiber additives,mostly fiberglass. This is known as a polymercomposite. One position polymer has three timesthe strength of tempered stee l and is being employ inbullet proof vests. Another composite will be usedto fasten together the sections proposed spacestations. Polymers take aim also been used in cars,including the Chevrolet Camaro and the PontiacFiero. New polymers are being created with morestrength and flexibility by combing two chemicallydifferent polymers and producing a full pointcopolymer. Combinations of block copolymersand composites and intended for use in boosterrockets and in materials of Earth-orbitinginstallations. most(prenominal) common polymers are usuallysolid, but a new crime syndicate of polymers is beingintroduced in a runny crystal state. Although thesepolymers still have the physical characteristics ofliquid, they are structured more like solids. Manyliquid crystals are transparent at one temperatureand colored at other temperature. This makesthem suitable for use in liquid crystal displays, suchas in digital watches, hand-held calculators, andlap-top computers. A new liquid polymer ,consisting of a mixture of iron and nickel, is beingused to make metal cogitate that can be used inpaper, glass, and on electronic lot boards.Despite the development and widespread use of