IMPACT OF POLYMER ON SOCIETY Present day advancement in technology has enhanced good quality of life in the society. Polymer has played a greater role in this emerging advancement. These are evident in the modern sophisticated medical, transport, sensor and agricultural equipments now in the market which are made up of metals and modified polymers.

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IMPACT OF POLYMER ON SOCIETY
INTRODUCTION:
Present day advancement in technology has enhanced good quality of life in the society.
Polymer has played a greater role in this emerging advancement. These are evident in the
modern sophisticated medical, transport, sensor and agricultural equipments now in the market
which are made up of metals and modified polymers. Substitution of damage human parts with
polymer, i.e. prostatic limbs, knee, implant and the new era of drug delivery. Polymers are now
modified by chemist and these modifications alter their physical and chemical properties for
various societal needs such as sensors. These sensors are use in environmental monitoring for
toxic gases, pollutant in river and portable water. The sensors are also used in process plants for
quality control.
Recent revolution in production of batteries is made possible by polymer -electrolyte. Low and
high powered dry batteries are now available for outer space use. International space stations
now use dry polymer electrolyte batteries for its operation. In this essay positive and negative
impact of polymer on society will be discussed. The topic will be divided into several sections
taking into account different function of polymer: the use of polymer in medicine, the use of
polymer in sensor, the use of polymer in agriculture and the use of polymer in transportation.
1- POSITIVE IMPACT
1-1 -MEDICAL AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS:
Polymer, natural or manmade have long been used to supplement or replace human body parts
such as breast, knee, hip, joint, and dental structures.[1] These replacements have improved
quality of life of patient and humanity. Man made polymers such as polyethylene (PE)
polyurethane (PU) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyacetal (PA) polylactic acid (PLA),
polypropylene (PP), Polysulfone (PS) and host of others in table 1 have been used to replace
hard and soft tissues as in (figure 1).
Many polymer composite materials are now used in various medical applications as a result of
their availablability in a wide variety of compositions and forms (, fibers, solids ,fabrics and gel).
They also may be fabricated into complex structures and shapes. Polymer materials offer
desired high strength and bone like elastic properties hence they have been used for bone plate
applications, and intralmedullary nails

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Intramedullary nails or rods made of CP/PEEK are sometimes used to fix the bone fractures
,such as , fracture of femoral neck or inter-trochanteric bone fracture. They are inserted into the
intramedullary cavity of the bone and screws are used ti fix it into position (fig. 1) [1]
Replacement of the total disc (nucleus and annulus) using an artificial disc are used to treat
Problems related to intervertebal discs. “The method require duplication of the natural structure,
significant durability to last longer than 40 years, and ease and safety during implant placement
or removal”. [1]
Table.1polymer material are use in medical applications.
Joint Replacement
Joint makes the movement of the body and its parts possible. Many joints in the body permit free
movement .and this gives us ablity to perform various physical activities in our daily life.
Total Hip Replacement (THR):
THR is a common man-made joint in people beings. A bio-mechanics based design. involve of
a cup type ace tabular part, and a femoral part whose head is fit into the ace tabular cup, there
by enabling joint articulations.
Total knee replacement (TKR)
degeneration and injuries of Knee occur more often than the majority of other joints. A typical
TKR involve of tibial and femoral (Fig. 1). The femoral part rubs on the tibial part. The
materials have used for femoral parts are predominantly Ti and Co-Cr alloys . The tibial parts
are made of polymer “UHMWPE” included a metallic tibial tray.

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Bone replacement :
Synthetic bone grafts fill are used for replacing fractured bones. The material are strong and
stiff, and capable of bonding to bones. PE is biocompatible usage in hip and knee joint
replacements. PE has been reinforced using HA particles for synthetic bone grafting. Prostatic
leg and harm are now made PE which has also been reinforced by HA (Figure 2).
Dental applications:
Dental treatment such as filling cavities, replacing teeth. A large variety of materials are used
in dental treatments such as cavity lining, cavity filling , luting, endodontic crown and bridge,
prosthetic, preventive, orthodontic and periodontal treatment of teeth. BIS-GMA a dental
composite resin has been used during dental surgery.
Many different types of implants which are polymer made are used to correct tissue deformities
or congenital and acquired defects. Functions; of tissue implant include fill the space; enclose,
store, mechanical support and scaffold for tissue growth. Bulk space filler are mainly SR, PE
and PTFE.
Urethra, prosthesis, Catheters and Sutures:
Some Urethra have made of PTPE ,PVC , SR and PE . Polyester fibre rein enforced with glycol
methacrylates urethra is currently being used in most hospital in developed countries. Catheters
is also made of PU and SR.
Drug Delivery:
Recent Innovation in drug delivery system has been made possible as a result of current
development in polymer research. Drugs are carried within polymer or encircle in a polymer
matrix while the drug diffuses into tissues. I, 2 propylene glycol have been used for drug delivery
Vascular Graft:
Many synthetic vascular grafts are made of PET, PTFE and PU. They are used in diameter
blood vessels replacements.

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Medical Instrumentation:
Medical instruments, such as ,MR and CT are made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer
composite. This material is used for making, , surgical clamp , X- ray films and head rest
frames .
From the above applications, it is evident that the quality of life of the society will be immproved
and future generation of the society to come will still benefit from the advancement in medcine
brought by current advancement in polymer. research. Medical advancement, such as
immediate health care delivery, easy access to medical attention by those who are
incapacitated, various aliment are now cured as a result of better drug delivery brought by
polymer. better dental treatment, good medical instrument for pathological examination and easy
movment for disable when polymer composite replaces the damaged part of the body.
Figer1:Variose applications of different polyner composite biomaterials.[1]

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Figure .2 : Prostatic leg are made PE which .[1]
2-1-TRANSPORT:
Batteries:
Passenger cars and light-duty and heavy duty vehicle requires power for operation. Fuel cell
mainly made of polymers has been developed for energy efficiency as well as to address the
problem of environmental burning of fossils fuel.[2,3].
Tyers:
Passenger cars and all other moving vehicles require tyres for movement. Natural and synthetic
rubbers are in equal proportion in production of tiers. Butadiene alkenes hydrocarbon, styrene
and isoprene are the monomers used in production of tyres. They are bases for synthetic rubber
compound in tires. Polymerisation of butadiene and styrene gives polybutadiene rubber.[4]
From transport application above, polymer composite now makes transpotation easier and
cheaper for the society. Car batteries and tyres are now mass produced, quality improved and
this reduced enviromental polution in the society.
3-1- PACKAGING:
Polysacharide based biopolymer are now being used as packaging materials, These include
starch , pullulan and chitosan. LDPE blends were made into the bags for rubbish or groceries.

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polysaccharide have been used for food packaging application while poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)
has been used as fast food conttaniers [5].
From the above, Polymer packaging now makes storage of food and goods more efficent for the
society.Polymer packaging now replace metal packageing which can be corroded and poisnous
4-1-REINFORCED PLASTIC AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL BUILDING:
Our culture heritage can be preserved by reinforced plastic cause conventional rehabilitation
methods does not contribute to a long term tough solution to preservation our historic building.
Carbon fibre with polymer has used to maintain historic buildings, monuments and bridges of
historic importance,
Reinforced plastics can be contributed to keep our cultural inheritance. worldwide historic
buildings, civil engineering constructions and monuments are steady decaying and in
earthquakes, some suffer extremely damage. For instance , of the many damages suffered in
26 /9/ 1997 by the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi in the disastrous earthquake , definitely,
the great devastation was the falling down of the parts of the vaulting in the Upper Church.
These were replaced with frescoes by Giotto (1267 - 1337) and Cimabue (1240 – 1302) . [6].
From the above, Polymer composite now play a role in preservation of our historic buildings for
the future generation of the society
5-1-AGRICULTURE:
Polymers of different grades have used in restrained release of nutrient and pesticides, seed
coating ,soil conditioning, and plants protection. Degradable plastic has also used as container
of planting and mulches. Polymer used for mulches and planting container are polyvinyl alcohol
, PVC and poly ethylene –co- acrylic acid.
In control released of agriculture chemical, the polymer controls the rate of mobility , delivery
and period effectiveness period of the chemical elements. Starch, Cellulose, chitin, lignin and
alginic acid are among of the natural polymer used as control release. Planting container are
mainly made of polycaprolactone [5].
From the above,polymer has enabled better production of quality agricultural food to the
society. It has also increased quantity of food production.
5-1-SENSORS APPLICATION:
Polymer has found a place in electronic measuring devices, such as gas sensor, pH and alcohol
sensor. This is possible because the physical and chemical properties of polymers that can be

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modified by the chemists over a wider range of characteristics for various sensor needs (Table
1) . Conducting polymers have used as immobilising material or a coating surface of
electrodes. Polyacetylene is known as the first polymer for conducting and when exposed to
iodine vapour, its conductivity is enhanced. Charge transfer happens from chain of
polyacetylene and other heterocyclic conducting polymer to iodine. The charge carriers are
smooth to transport along the chine of the polymer to create metallic behaviour and this
made them to be used in gas sensor. A polypyrrole –PVA composite has been found to posses’
ammonia sensing capacity because polypyrrole undergo reversible redox reaction.[7, 8].
A non polymer can also be used for specific receptor agent on the sensor device.
Phthaocyamine has been used as coating for QCM sensor used as ehanol sensor. Methacrylic
polymers have been used for receptor agent for nucleotides, amino acid and herbicide sensor
Conducting and non conducting polymers have been used in biosensor. Biosensor transfers
biological reactions into the electrical signals. It has been extensively used in, environmental
,medical diagnostics and pollution control. Polymers used in application of various sensors are
summarised in (table 2).
From the above, polymer has improved the quality of sensing apparatus such as gas, alcohol,
and chemical sensor used by the society. The sensors enabled society to monitor environmental
pollution and some chemical which are deleterious to the society

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Table(2), polymers used in gas sensors.

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6.1 COMMUNICATION:
In spite of the fact that a majority of plastic and polymers are incapable to conduct electricity,
their insulation properties are utilised in communication industries.
From the above , polymer has improved the standard and efficiency of communication in the
society as a result of better insulation it provides to both underground and aerial cables used in
telecommunication, broadband and radio equipments.
7-1-Space Application :
Most present day batteries are mainly made with composite polymer material, solid polymer
electrolyte and polymer alloyed materials. They are miniaturised in various shapes and most a
times reduced weight. Photovoltic solar array are also made up of polymer derivatives.
European launchers, for instance (ARIANE 1-4) has used batteries for suppling of electricity.
Requirements of Low energy admitted the use of batteries and photovoltaic solar arrangement
in orbital space craft. Fuel cell systems (FCS) have obviously performance and weight
advantages compared to batteries during the European Space Station Columbus and the
manned re-entry vehicle Hermes, ..[9].
From the above, polymer has improve space research which help the society to predict weather.
2- NEGATIVE IMPACT :
1-POLLUTION :
Discarded plastics or polymer are an important pollutant of sea marine of New Zealand,
Southern high lands, Australia and oceanic waters. Some of the environmental impacts include:
death and debilitation of wildlife through entanglement and ingestion, reductions in quality of life
and reproductive performance, hazards to shipping and possibly health, and a vector for the
introduction of alien toxin that may endanger island ecosystems or traditional seafood resources.
Indiscriminate disposal of plastic by vessels at sea are blamed. for the pollution. However,it has
been realised that much shoreline litter came from urban area showing inadequate disposal
practices by recreational visitors. High quantities of plastic litter on shorelines of the area
indigate this could be to the detrimental to tourism.
Plastics is indispensable to modern life. Unfortunately, ever expanding demand for plastic
products have created a global environmental nuisance The world is now aware the plasticis
needs a long term monitoring of the general of coastal oceanic water.[10].

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From the above, some plastic are not degradable for a long time and thereby causing some
environmental hazards. This has negative impact on the society because it affects land use,
dangerous to marine life and food resources.
CONCLUSION
Polymers wide mutifuctionality leads to many differences in applications of polymer in medicine,
transportation and specialised area as chemical and biological sensors. This essay
demonstrate the multifunctionality of polymer for the benefit of the society.
In medicine, medical practices utilises a number of polymer devices and implants to restore the
function of degenerated tissue or organs. Implants such as sutures,bone plate,joint replacement,
ligaments and vascular graft have been discussed, While devises such as pace maker, artificial
heart, blood tubes are currently been used on patient in hospitals..
Using polymer as a receptor material or one of the component of the response layer in chemical
or biological sensor leads to a variety of possible applications in sensor devices, This is possible
because the polymers are tailored or modified for a particular properties. Thin film deposition of
polymer and development of more specific and active sensor polymer will lead to miniature
sensors arry which can be used as electronic nose and tongue.
Solid polymer fuel cell has been made for international space station and fuel cells for
automotive application is now commercialised..Naturer rubber and other polymers have been
extensively used for the production of different Tyers used in auto mobiles
Reinforced plastics have helped preservation of historic building in Europe and other developed
countries. Polymeric material are used to reinforced structures with less damage to existing
structure than reinforcement using steel bars..
Polymeric materials such as plastics have been a source of pollution in Oceania shores of New
Zealand, Australia and pacific highlands. This is likely to worsen unless there is public
awareness of clean pacific waterways.
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