Natural, Synthetic, and Artificial Polymers: Properties and Uses

Natural, Synthetic, and Artificial Polymers

A polymer is a macromolecule composed of long strings, where a smaller molecular unit, known as a monomer, is repeated. It is a typical type of structure of organic compounds, formed by the union of monomers, which are carbon compounds, hydrogen, and other radicals, with the ability of carbon to establish bonds between their atoms.

• Natural polymers: proteins, nucleic acids, lignin, chitin, and rubber.
• Synthetic polymers: nylon, polystyrene, polyester, PVC.
• Artificial polymers: rayon, nitrocellulose, and vulcanized rubber.

PVC and Wood: Properties and Uses

PVC

PVC is a thermoplastic polymer that comes in two varieties:

• Rigid: used for structural elements of construction such as door frames, windows, and pipes.
• Flexible: used to manufacture cables and coatings.

Wood

Wood is composed of cellulose and lignin and is obtained from the trunks of trees. Its properties depend on the species from which the wood is obtained. It is a resistant and lightweight material used to build walls and floors.

Silicon: A New Material

Silicon is a material whose resistance to the flow of electricity depends on factors such as temperature, mechanical stress to which it is subjected, or the degree of illumination that is applied. With the manipulation of these factors, the current flow is interrupted or modulated.

Material Life Cycle and Recycling

The life cycle describes the stages that a material goes through, from procurement to the end of the useful life of the objects of which it is a part. To avoid a negative impact on the environment, recycling processes are designed, through which the material is reintroduced into the cycle of production and consumption.

Benefits of Recycling

Recycling offers two main advantages:

• Reduction of the amount of waste that must be managed.
• Preservation of natural resources that would otherwise be exploited to create new amounts of material.

Phases of Recycling

The recycling process has three phases:

1. Recovery: Recyclable materials must be able to be recovered and separated easily.
2. Transformation: They must be able to revert to raw materials through procedures with little economic and environmental impact.
3. Consumption: In order to optimally reuse the recycled material, it must retain as much as possible the properties and characteristics of the material synthesized for the first time.