A polymer is a substance made of large molecules composed of many repeating chemical units linked together into long chains or networks.
Polymers can occur naturally or be manufactured synthetically. Natural polymers include substances such as cellulose, starch, proteins, and natural rubber, while synthetic polymers include many plastics, synthetic rubbers, fibers, coatings, and adhesives.
Different polymers can have very different properties, including flexibility, strength, elasticity, resistance to heat, and chemical stability.
QUICK FACT
Not all polymers are plastics. Plastic is a broad class of materials made primarily from polymers, but polymers also include many substances that are not plastics.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Plastic: Plastic is a type of polymer-based material; polymer is the broader chemical term.
- Monomer: a smaller molecule that can be chemically linked to form a polymer.
SEE ALSO
