Polymer In Our Life

A polymer is a large molecule or macromolecule composed of

many repeated subunits. Because of their broad range of
properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play an essential
and ubiquitous role in everyday life. Polymers range from familiar
synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such
as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure
and function. Polymers have both natural and synthetic, are
created via polymerization of many small molecules, known as
monomers. Their consequently large molecular mass relative
to small
molecule compounds produces
unique
physical
properties, including toughness, viscoelasticity, and a tendency to
form glasses and semicrystalline structures rather than crystals.

Appearance of real linear polymer chains as recorded using an atomic force

microscope on a surface, under liquid medium. Chain contour length for this
polymer is ~204 nm; thickness is ~0.4 nm.

Two Types Of Polymers

Polymers are of two types:
Natural polymeric materials such
as shellac, amber, wool, silk and natural rubber have been used
for centuries. A variety of other natural polymers exist, such
as cellulose, which is the main constituent of wood and paper.
The list of synthetic polymers includes synthetic
rubber, phenol formaldehyde resin
(or Bakelite), neoprene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC or
vinyl), polystyrene,polyethylene, polypropylene , polyacryloni
trile, PVB, silicone, and many more.

Polymer Fiber
Fiber is a natural or synthetic string or used as a component of
composite materials or when matted into sheets, used to make
products such as paper, papyrus, or felt.
Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials.
The strongest engineering materials often incorporate fibers,
for example carbon fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight
polyethylene.
Synthetic fibers can often be produced very cheaply and in
large amounts compared to natural fibers, but for clothing
natural fibers can give some benefits, such as comfort, over
their synthetic counterparts.

Natural Fibers
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll or
protective capsule around the seeds of cotton plants of the
genus Gossypium in the family of Malvaceae.
The fiber is almost pure cellulose.

 Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep

and certain other animals, including cashmere
from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from
muskoxen, angora from rabbits, and other
types of wool from camelids.

Wool just before processing.

CASHMERE

MOHAIR GOAT

ANGORA RABBIT

 Silk is an animal protein fiber produced by

certain insects to build their cocoons and
webs. Many different types of silk are
produced by a huge variety of different types
of insects other than moth caterpillars.

Silk sari weaving

Silk sari

 Nylon fibers are one of the fibers having the

longest history among synthetic fibers. They are
used for a variety of uses from clothing to home
furnishings and industrial uses. In nylon fibers,
there are many types depending on the raw
materials.

Nylon

 Acrylic fibers are synthetic fibers made from a

polymer (polyacrylonitrile) with an average
molecular weight of ~100,000, about 1900 monomer
units. To be called acrylic in the U.S, the polymer
must contain at least 85% acrylonitrile monomer.

EXPERIMENT IS DOING!!!

Textile Fibers Burning Test

Natural Fibers
Cotton
(Natural cellulosic fiber)
- Burns, doesnt melt.
- Smells like burrning paper or wood.
- Residue : Fine gray ash.

Wool
Natural protein fiber.
Burns, doesnt melt.
Strongly smells of burning hair or feathers.
Stops burning when removed from fire.
Residue : Black hollow bead that can be
crushed to black powder.

Silk
Natural protein fiber.
Burns, doesnt melt.
Smells of burning hair of feathers : odoris not
as strong as with wool (silk doesnt contain
sulphur).
Stops burning when removed from fire.
Residue : Black hollow bead that can be
crushed to black powder.

 Nylon
Shrinks from heat, melts, can burn.
Smells a bit like celery.
Residue : Hard cream or black coloured bead that
cannot be crushed.
Acryclic
Shrinks from heat, melts and burns.
Spotters when burning.
Acrid smell.
Residue : Hard black bead that can be partially
crushed

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