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History of Polymers

Polymers are large macromolecules made of repeating subunits called monomers, playing crucial roles in daily life due to their unique properties. Historical advancements include Charles Goodyear's vulcanization of rubber in the 1830s and the invention of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907. Various types of polymers, such as nylon and Kevlar, have diverse applications ranging from packaging to high-strength materials for protective gear.

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16 views18 pages

History of Polymers

Polymers are large macromolecules made of repeating subunits called monomers, playing crucial roles in daily life due to their unique properties. Historical advancements include Charles Goodyear's vulcanization of rubber in the 1830s and the invention of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907. Various types of polymers, such as nylon and Kevlar, have diverse applications ranging from packaging to high-strength materials for protective gear.

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ellakhyati5677
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© © All Rights Reserved
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History of Polymers

Polymers
• Polymers are macromolecules constituted by many repeating subunits
derived from one or more species of monomers.
• Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural
polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life.
• Polymers, 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, high
elasticity, viscoelasticity, and a tendency to form amorphous and
semicrystalline structures rather than crystals.
• In biological contexts, essentially all biological macromolecules—i.e.,
proteins (polyamides), nucleic acids (polynucleotides), and polysaccharides
—are purely polymeric, or are composed in large part of polymeric
components.

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In ancient Mesoamerican cultures, rubber was used to make balls, sandal
soles, elastic bands, and waterproof containers.
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• In the 1830s, Charles Goodyear worked to devise a process for
strengthening rubber tires. Tires of the time would become soft and sticky
with heat, accumulating road debris that punctured them. Goodyear tried
heating rubber in order to mix other chemicals with it. This seemed to
harden and improve the rubber, though this was due to the heating itself
and not the chemicals used. Not realizing this, he repeatedly ran into
setbacks when his announced hardening formulas did not work
consistently.
• One day in 1839, when trying to mix rubber with sulfur, Goodyear
accidentally dropped the mixture in a hot frying pan. To his astonishment,
instead of melting further or vaporizing, the rubber remained firm and, as
he increased the heat, the rubber became harder. Goodyear worked out a
consistent system for this hardening, and by 1844 patented the process and
was producing the rubber on an industrial scale.
• Sulfur vulcanization is a chemical process for converting natural rubber or
related polymers into materials of varying hardness, elasticity, and
mechanical durability by heating them with sulfur or sulfur-containing
compounds.
• Sulfur forms cross-linking bridges between sections of polymer chains
which affects the mechanical and electronic properties. Many products are
made with vulcanized rubber, including tires, shoe soles, hoses, and
conveyor belts.
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• Bakelite is a thermosetting plastic that was the first synthetic plastic. It
was invented in 1907 by Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik
Baekeland. Bakelite is a condensation product of phenol and
formaldehyde.
Properties
• Hard, infusible, and chemically resistant
• Retains its shape even when heated or subjected to solvents
• High resistance to electricity, heat, and chemical action
Uses
• Used in many products, including washing-machine impellers, cars,
telephones, toys, radios, and even jewelry
• Currently in high demand by the automotive industry due to the growing
need for lightweight materials
• Offers a line of quality additives for the asphalt industry

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Numerous types of nylon are
available. One family,
designated nylon-XY, is derived
from diamines and dicarboxylic
acids of carbon chain lengths X
and Y, respectively. An
important example is nylon-6,6
((−C(O)(CH2)4C(O)
−NH(CH2)6NH−)n). Another
family, designated nylon-Z, is
derived from aminocarboxylic
acids with carbon chain length
Z. An example is nylon-[6].

1
It is a polymer, primarily
used for packaging (plastic
bags, plastic films,
geomembranes and
containers including bottles,
cups, jars, etc.).
Kevlar has many
applications, ranging from
bicycle tires and racing
sails to bulletproof vests,
all due to its high tensile
strength-to-weight ratio;
by this measure it is five
times stronger than steel.
It is also used to make
modern marching
drumheads that withstand
high impact; and for
mooring lines and other
underwater applications.
Kelvar

Poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide

1,4-phenylene-diamine terephthaloyl chloride

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