Biopolymers, Natural Polymers And Synthetic Polymers Explained

Polymers have for long been a fundamental element of our everyday lives so much so that examples can be found almost ubiquitously. We generally an effect leading us to think that polymers are simply plastics used for packaging, in household objects and then for making fibres, but this is just the tip from the iceberg.


Polymers are utilized in many applications you will possibly not have thought much about. This site enlightens you concerning the story behind polymers and how it’s got evolved since to provide several functions across a host of industries.
Origin of polymer science
Humans have got advantage of the versatility of polymers for hundreds of years in the form of oils, tars, resins and gums. However, it wasn’t prior to the industrial revolution how the polymer industry started to realize. The truth is, the birth of polymer science could possibly be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century. From the 1830s, Charles Goodyear developed the vulcanization process that transformed the sticky latex of natural rubber into a useful elastomer for tire use. In 1909, Leo Hendrik Baekeland designed a resin from two quite normal chemicals, phenol and formaldehyde. The response between those two chemicals paved the way for the development of a resin, called Bakelite, named after him. It turned out this resin that served like a harbinger to a lot of from the common polymers that we use today. The phrase “polymer” comes from the Greek roots “poly” and “mer,” which come up with means “many parts.” Polymeric substances are made of many chemical units called monomers, that are gathered into large molecular chains composed of thousands of atoms.
Classification of polymers
On the basis of their origin, polymer resin can be regarded as synthetic or natural polymers. Natural polymers are the type polymers that appear in nature and that that are isolated from plant and animal resources. Starch, cellulose, proteins, natural rubber etc. are some examples of natural polymers. Though they are processed to have the end product, since basic material develops from a natural source, these polymers are referred to as natural polymers. Natural rubber via tree latex it’s essentially a polymer produced from isoprene units which has a tiny proportion of impurities within it.
With this context, biopolymers are also significant. There is certainly huge variety of biopolymers including polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides. They may be naturally manufactured by microorganisms. The genetic manipulation of microorganisms makes method for enormous potential for the biotechnological creation of biopolymers with tailored properties well suited for high-value medical application including tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Synthetic polymers, as their name indicates, are synthesized in the laboratory or factory by way of a group of chemical reactions from low molecular weight compounds. Through the functional standpoint they could be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and artificial fibres. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is but one such thermoplastic manufactured by the polymerization from the monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA). PMMA is frequently referred to as acrylic plastic and lends its properties into a selection of consumer product applications. Being both a thermoplastic and transparent plastic, acrylic can be used extensively in the automotive industry in trunk release handles, master cylinder, and dashboard lighting. Consumer goods that have a constituent part of acrylic plastic include aquariums, motorcycle helmet lenses, paint, furniture, picture framing, and umbrella clamps, and others.
Some of the other synthetic polymers that we use in our everyday life include Nylons, utilized in fabrics and textiles, Teflon, utilized in non-stick pans and Polyvinyl Chloride, utilized in pipes.
As a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is glad to assist you in understanding its properties like a synthetic polymer. To understand more, reach out to us here.
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5 Reasons Why Acrylic Plastic Is utilized For Automotive Glazing

Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the best option material for usage within the automotive industry. However, recently, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen to the growing demands from the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important utilization in the, namely, automotive glazing.


Long established for usage in a variety of vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is one of those fields that provide the best growth possibility of PMMA.
Related key top features of acrylic plastic which make it suitable for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Light-weight
To make a comparison on a simple level, PMMA is half the weight plus much more transparent than glass, thereby providing magnificent visibility even in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed polymer resin are used almost exclusively for car window glazing where each of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, very easy to process and perform in all weathers are met.
On top of Scratch Resistance
Another significant requirement for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you’ll find stringent conditions being fulfilled to meet the ideal condition of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Since PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is useful. In comparison, thermoplastics who have low capacity weathering demand a two-step coating system. This results in relatively high costs for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. Using the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is known as the best fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its extremely high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits very little stress birefringence and also this functions as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, that has been primarily employed for glazing in the past. Compared with traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, comes with a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The modern goal within the automotive marketplace is to formulate clean low fuel consumption vehicles. In the awareness and also the need for eco-friendly initiatives in the present general scheme of things, PMMA functions as a perfect substitute for glass within the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that satisfy the latest challenges within the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for car makers that want to sit in recent environmental requirements and so are thinking about alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It does not take perfect partner in this movement since it tends to make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is happy to assist you to understand its properties and the way it best suited to automotive glazing.
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5 Reasons Why Acrylic Plastic Is utilized For Automotive Glazing

Polycarbonate had earned the tag as the the best option material to be used in the automotive industry. However, in recent years, Polymethyl Methacrylate, the PMMA polymer or commonly known acrylic plastic, has efficiently risen on the growing demands in the automotive industry in replacing polycarbonate which are more important use within the, namely, automotive glazing.


Long established to be used in a number of vehicle applications such as decorative trim, ambient lighting and door entry strips, automotive glazing is among those fields that offer the greatest growth potential for PMMA.
Related key popular features of acrylic plastic making it perfect for the process of automotive glazing are discussed below.
Lightweight
To produce a comparison on a standard level, PMMA is half the load and more transparent than glass, thereby providing crystal clear visibility even in the truth of fluctuating and unstable temperatures. Because of its molecular structure, thermoformed thermoplastic resin have become used almost just for car window glazing where every one of the necessary requirements for light-weight materials that are safe, easy to process and perform in most weathers are met.
High on Scratch Resistance
Another critical desire for glazing is scratch resistance. Standard PMMA already gets the highest surface hardness of all thermoplastics regardless if uncoated. However, for automotive glazing, you will find stringent conditions to get fulfilled to fulfill the perfect state of scratch resistance. The effective use of a coating is therefore mandatory. Given that PMMA is intrinsically UV in addition to weathering-resistant, a single-step coating is effective. On the other hand, thermoplastics that have low resistance to weathering demand a two-step coating system. This results in relatively expensive for coating.
New design possibilities
PMMA glazing is Forty to fifty percent lighter than conventional glass, which piques the eye of automobile manufacturers. With all the advantages being immediately obvious, PMMA is known as the correct fit for automotive glazing. Weight savings apart, the transparency of acrylic plastic along with its very high weathering resistance, pleasant acoustic properties, and exceptional form ability allow freedom enabling entirely new design possibilities.
Less anxiety birefringence
PMMA exhibits almost no stress birefringence and this works as a major benefit over other thermoplastics such as polycarbonate, which was primarily used for glazing previously. Weighed against traditional materials such as polycarbonate, moulded PMMA, provides a distinct chance of functional integration – reducing recess depth and assembly costs.
Environment-friendly
The new goal in the automotive marketplace is to produce clean low fuel consumption vehicles. Due to the awareness and the requirement of eco-friendly initiatives in the current general scheme of things, PMMA works as a perfect alternative to glass in the automotive glazing segment. As vehicle manufacturers push the boundaries of design, also is automotive glazing evolving.
SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer offers characteristics that fulfill the latest challenges in the transportation sector. It’s a monumental challenge for auto makers that are looking to adjust to recent environmental requirements and so are thinking of alternatives that reduce greenhouse gas and save fuel. It’s the perfect partner with this movement because it helps make cars lighter.
Like a leading manufacturer of SUMIPEX® PMMA polymer, Sumitomo Chemical is satisfied to work with you understand its properties and just how it ideal to automotive glazing.
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