This report discusses polymers and polymer synthesis. It defines polymers as large molecules composed of repeating structural units or monomers joined by covalent bonds. Polymers are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. The report examines important natural polymers like cellulose as well as common synthetic polymers like polyethylene. It explores the manufacturing of plastics from different polymer types and polymerization reactions like addition and condensation that link monomers. In conclusion, polymers are ubiquitous materials that have revolutionized daily life due to their versatile properties and wide applications in areas like packaging and clothing.

1. Koya University
Faculty of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department
Engineering Materials
Engineering Materials Report
Polymer and Polymer Synthesis (Polymerization)
Instructor
Mr. Majeed Kakarash
Prepared by
Safeen Yaseen Jafar
Submitted Date
22 Apr 2021

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT/SUMMARY................................................................................................ 1
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 2
2. BODY ........................................................................................................................5-11
2.1 WHAT ARE POLYMERS AND POLYMERIZATION .......................................................... 5
2.2 Classifications of Polymers................................................................................... 5
2.2.1 Natural Polymers ............................................................................................... 6
2.2.2 Synthetic Polymers .............................................................................................. 8
2.3 WHY POLYMERS ARE IMPORTANT?............................................................................ 9
2.4 PRIMARY PLASTIC PRODUCTION FROM POLYMER TYPES......................................... 10
2.5 POLYMERIZATION - HOW POLYMERS ARE SYNTHESIZES?......................................... 11
3. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................. 12
4. CONCLUSION........................................................................................................... 14
5. LIST OF REFERENCES ......................................................................................... 15

3. LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 ............................................................................................................................. 2
Figure 2 ............................................................................................................................. 2
Figure 3 ............................................................................................................................. 3
Figure 4 ............................................................................................................................. 4
Figure 5 ............................................................................................................................. 5
Figure 6 ............................................................................................................................. 5
Figure 7 ............................................................................................................................. 6
Figure 8 ............................................................................................................................. 7
Figure 9 ............................................................................................................................. 7
Figure 10 ........................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 11 ........................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 12 ......................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 13 ......................................................................................................................... 11

4. 1
Abstract
We know that the materials are all around of us and they have most effects on many
things, benefits, contribution with very large amount of each matter in this world and also have
different properties. If we look anywhere, we can feel the materials in there. So, in this report we
talk about one of the materials which contribute with most of the materials of our equipments in
daily life which we will mention in the next sections in this report. This report helps us to
understand the polymers and how they made or joined together. However, this report includes
the classifications of polymers, types, importance, applications in our life, So on. You can get
other information about the polymers and synthesis of polymers.

5. 2
1. Introduction
Polymers are all around us. The foods we eat and clothes we wear are made of polymers.
Some of the most common natural polymers include starch, cellulose, and proteins. Some
synthetic polymers may be familiar to you as plastics and synthetic fibers. Polymers become the
raw materials for products we now use every day, including: synthetic clothing, fiberglass,
plastic bags, nylon bearing, polyethylene cups, epoxy glue, silicone heart valves, Teflon-coated
cookware and our personal favorite, polymer-based paints. Today, polymeric materials are used
in nearly all areas of daily life and their production and fabrication are major worldwide
industries. [1]
However, polymers exist in difference types by another word the can classified into some
types. For instance, in this page, you can see this picture on the right hand two main class of
polymers.
Polymers generally have high molecular weights ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol.
Synthetic polymers are really mixtures of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, so the
reported molecular weight is an average value based on the average size of the polymer chain.
We can write the structure of a polymer by shorthand and in simple by placing brackets round
the retelling unit that forms the chain. [2]
Figure (1) – In these two figures you can see too class of polymers which are Natural Polymers
and Synthetic Polymers
Figure (2) – this figure shown as the drawing of polymer structures.

6. 3
Polymers have many usages and applications in our daily life. By another word we can
say polymers play a huge role in our day to day lives. Also, their usages are wide and include
many our needs or helpful works. It is important to understand that most of the alkene monomers
are obtained in some part from crude oil and therefore it is critical that we recycle plastics to
conserve our natural resources for the future manufacture of these polymers. There are also big
problems with the disposal of polymers. However, the burning of polymers produces many toxic
gases which themselves can damage the environment and cause pollution. [3]
Figure (3) – If you see this figure, you can feel many applications of polymers around yourself.

7. 4
1.2 History of Polymer and It’s synthesis (Polymerization)
The word (Polymer) is derived from the Greek word (poly) and (mer), poly means many
and mer means parts, respectively. Some scientists prefer to use the word macromolecule, or
large molecule, instead of polymer. Polymers have existed in natural form since life began, and
those such as DNA, RNA, proteins and polysaccharides play crucial roles in plant and animal
life. During the last century and a half, new families of engineering materials known as polymers
have been discovered and produced, that have not only challenged the classical materials but
have also made possible the realization of new products which have contributed to extend the
range of activities of mankind. [4]
Figure (4) - This figure shows the
graph that related to plastic
production growing (one of
polymers)
In 1820, Thomas Hancock discovered that when masticated, natural rubber becomes
more fluid making it easier to blend with additives and to mound. Some years later, in 1839,
Charles Goodyear found that the elastic properties of natural rubber could be improved, and its
tackiness eliminated, by heating with sulfur. Patents for this discovery were issued in 1844 to
Goodyear, and slightly earlier to Hancock, who christened the process vulcanization. In 1851,
Nelson Goodyear, Charles’ brother, patented the vulcanization of natural rubber with large
amounts of sulfur to produce a hard material more commonly known as hard rubber, ebonite or
vulcanite. [5]
Polymers History of Polymers
1. From earliest time to 1900: the realization of a new material group.
2. 1900-1930 The birth of a plastic technology.
3. 1930-1950 Plastics as substitute materials.
4. 1950-1970 The “Plastics” age.
5. 1970-now Engineering Plastics.

8. 5
Figure (5) –
In this diagram you
can see the history
or timeline of
polymers in
medicine.
2.1 What are Polymers and Polymerization or Polymer synthesis?
Polymers: are large molecules made of many small units joined to each other through
organic reactions. The small units are monomers. A polymer can be made from identical or
different monomers. Polymer synthesis, also called Polymerization Process, is the process by
which monomers are covalently bonded to form a (usually long) polymer chain or network. [6]
Figure (6) – Same or different Monomers bonded together to make polymers
2.2 Classifications of Polymers
Polymers can be classifying as some categories by their source, structure and properties.
No. According to Source According to Structure According to Properties
1. Natural Polymers Linear Polymers Rubbers
2. Semi-synthetic Polymers Branched Chain Polymers Plastics
3. Synthetic Polymers Cross Linked Polymers Fibers
Now we focus on the natural polymers and synthetic polymers also, their applications,
advantages and disadvantages. [7]

9. 6
2.2.1 Natural Polymers
As you see in the names of this type of polymer which derived from the word nature. So,
the natural polymers are existing naturally and can be find from the environment nature. Some
examples of the nature polymers are:
• Hair
• Skin
• Tissue
• DNA
• RNA
• Cellulose
• Proteins.
Figure (7) – Structure of most shared natural polymers: a) cellulose, b) lignin and c) chitin.
Figure (8) – Derivatives of Cellulose

10. 7
Application of Natural Polymers
The products from natural sources have become an integral part of human health care system
because of some side effects and toxicity of synthetic drugs. Applications of natural polymers in
pharmacy are comparable to the synthetic polymers and they possess wide scope in food and
cosmetic industries. The present paper gives a state-of-the-art of available information on naturally
available polymers and their versatile uses. [8]
1. It can be used in pharmaceutical industry to make the variety of pharmaceutical products.
2. To manufacturing many drugs.
3. They can formulate the foods and used in cosmetic industries.
Impacts of Natural Polymers
• Environmental Impact: As
you on the right side in this
paper. This figure explains the
contributions of many of
natural polymers in the
environment.
• Economic Impacts: Natural
Polymers are affecting the
economics of countries by
enormous effects on
companies. [9]
Figure (9) – This figure shows us the biomass
production by contribution of natural polymers

11. 8
2.2.2 Synthetic Polymers
Synthetic polymers are the polymers which made by human. these polymers consist of
repeated organizational units named as monomers. However, one of the simplest polymers is the
Polyethylene, it has ethene or ethylene as the monomer unit while the linear polymer is called as
the high-density polyethylene-HDPE. [10]
Application of Synthetic Polymers
Some uses are given below-
1. Polyethylene is used to make plastic sandwich bags.
2. We can make milk jugs from the synthetic polymers
such as (HDPE).
3. Another use of synthetic polymers can be used to
make specialty athletic clothing such as: Nylon,
Spandex or Lycra.
4. Compact discs are made from them such as
polycarbonate.
5. Also, the soda bottles are examples which made
from polyethylene terephthalate.
6. See the figure below to see two more of synthetic polymers applications. [11]
Figure (11) – In this figure you can see some examples or usages of Synthetic Materials.
Figure (10) – We can see many
samples of synthetic polymers
around of us.

12. 9
Synthetic Polymer Effects
Nowadays problems which caused by synthetic polymers are too much. There are some
problems of them: [12]
1. Environmental Problems
Synthetic polymers can combust in the incinerators that cause to air pollution and release the
poisonous gases. They toxic for water sources like seas and oceans also tend to foods. Also, they
can have effects on the workers especially workers in polymer and plastic industries.
2. Their Effects on Humans
Many polymers such as plastics and others can cause to bad impact on the human body. For
instance, phthalate ester plasticizers are taken out by the blood from the plastic bags which are
used for the storage of blood. It enters in the blood stream of patient when he receives that blood.
2.3 Why Polymers are Important?
Advantages (Benefits) of Polymers
✓ Polymers are used in all materials, which are can find nearly in each material which used
in our everyday life.
✓ Natural polymers are abundant, renewable, diverse, versatile, biodegradable,
biocompatible, safe, non-toxic and inexpensive sources of biomaterials.
✓ Other benefits of polymers especially natural polymers are that they include the proteins,
which are the polymers of amino acids, and the nucleic acids.
✓ Synthetic and natural polymers could be used in the form of inorganic and organic
polymers; coatings, elastomers, adhesives, blends, plastics, fibers, caulks, ceramics, and
composites. [13]

13. 10
2.4 Primary Plastic Production from Polymer Types (2015)
Figure (12) – This chart show us the Plastic production by various types of polymers. [14]

14. 11
2.5 Polymerization (How polymers are synthesizes?)
Polymerization is the process of combination of monomers to build polymers. and these
polymers are then used to make many types of products such as plastics, rubbers and others.
During polymerization, these monomers are chemically combined to make larger particles. [15]
Classification of Polymerization Reaction
We can classify the polymerization processes by mechanism of the reaction of the monomers.
Thus, here we have two types of polymerization reaction below:
Addition Polymerization
As we see in the word ‘’addition’’ in this type, polymers are created while the monomers are
added or increased to each other. There are uses of monomers as unsaturated compound. it
means the carbon compounds which are connected by double or triple covalent bonds. For
instance, alkenes and alkynes.
Condensation Polymerization
We have more categories of polymerization reaction like Condensation which is a method of
stage-progress polymerization in which monomers or oligomers react to form larger structural
units while releasing smaller molecules as a byproduct, such as water or methanol. A well-
known condensation reaction is the esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols. [16]
Figure (13) – Now you look above reaction that shows the condensation polymerization.

15. 12
3. Resulting (Discussion)
Polymers and their synthesis need more information or facts. However, in this report we
talked about some details about polymers and some terms which related to it. Thus, now we can
discuss why polymers are important than other types of materials which used in daily lives. So,
you can check following points to understand these reasons:
Polymers are organic materials which most of them are naturally exist in the world.
We can use polymers as thing that we need or that we like.
They have best properties for using, it means their uses are so simple and so easy.
Many things around us are made from polymers, such as plastics, elastics, our home
equipment, etc.

16. 13
4. Conclusion
In previous sections in this report, we talked about polymers and polymerization as brief
and very important subject in material engineering and science. However, we discussed this
report before this section. Polymers are most important which are one of group of materials
while we mention it in anywhere, we remember that it is more important than we think. Finally,
we can brief our report below. A revolution has occupied residence over the last 50 years in the
ground of synthetic polymers, which usages have quickly infused many of aspects of our day-to-
day life. This quick step of the advance in polymers with just a few decades which separate their
first commercial development from their present universal use, has been amazing. Synthetic
polymers are so well integrated into the fabric of society that we take little notice of our
dependence on them.

17. 14
5. References
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[Accessed 14 Mar. 2021].
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18. 15
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