What Is A Polymer?
QUICK ANSWER
A polymer is a large molecule made up of many smaller molecules (monomers) linked together in a long chain. The word comes from Greek meaning 'many parts.' Polymers include all plastics, all proteins, all rubbers, DNA, cellulose, and many other materials critical to modern life. They can be natural like silk or synthetic like nylon.
Polymers are some of the most important materials in human civilization. From the plastic bottles you drink from to the proteins that build your cells, almost every advanced material is a polymer. The category is huge: plastics, fibers, rubbers, gels, paints, adhesives, biological molecules, and many others all qualify. What unites them is the structure: long chains of repeating small molecular units that give polymers their characteristic strength, flexibility, and versatility.
What is a polymer made of?
A polymer is built from monomers, which are small repeating molecular units linked together. A polymer chain can contain anywhere from a few hundred to several million monomer units. The chain length and structure determine the polymer's properties: longer chains generally produce stronger, higher melting point materials. Polymers can be linear (straight chains), branched (chains with side branches), or cross-linked (chains connected to other chains). Each of these structures gives different physical properties: linear polymers often melt and flow when heated; cross-linked polymers stay rigid even at high temperatures.
What are natural polymers?
Natural polymers existed long before chemists figured out how to make synthetic ones. Cellulose, the main structural component of plant cell walls, is a polymer of glucose. Starch, plant energy storage, is also a glucose polymer with a different structure. Proteins are polymers of amino acids, including everything from spider silk to muscle fibers to enzymes. DNA and RNA are polymers of nucleotides. Rubber is a natural polymer from rubber trees. Wool, silk, and cotton are protein-based natural polymers. Most of biology is built on polymer chemistry.
What are synthetic polymers?
Synthetic polymers are the human-made plastics and fibers that dominate modern materials. Polyethylene is used in plastic bags and bottles. PVC is used in pipes and vinyl flooring. Polystyrene makes foam packaging. Nylon and polyester are used in clothing and ropes. Polyurethane makes foam mattresses and insulation. Teflon makes nonstick cookware. Acrylic makes plexiglass and paint. Synthetic polymers were largely developed in the early 20th century and have transformed everything from clothing to construction to electronics. They're typically made from petroleum-derived monomers.
What gives polymers their useful properties?
Polymers have unusual properties because of their long-chain structure. Chains can tangle and slide past each other, giving plastics their flexibility. Chains can crystallize in regular arrangements, giving polymers strength. Cross-links between chains can lock the structure in place, producing rubbery or rigid materials. Polymer properties can be tuned by changing chain length, branching, cross-linking, and the chemical nature of the monomers. This is why polymers can be made transparent or opaque, flexible or rigid, conductive or insulating, biodegradable or extremely durable.
A polymer is a long molecular chain made up of many smaller repeating units called monomers. From the cellulose in trees to the plastics in your phone to the DNA in your cells, polymers are everywhere. Their versatility comes from the many ways monomers can be combined and arranged, producing materials with an enormous range of useful properties.
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