Chemists disputed the existence of molecules with molecular weights higher than a few thousand before the early 1920s. Hermann Staudinger, a German chemist with expertise investigating natural substances such as rubber and cellulose, disputed this restrictive viewpoint. Staudinger argued that these compounds were made up of macromolecules with 10,000 or more atoms, as opposed to the current categorization of these substances as an aggregation of tiny molecules. He developed a rubber polymeric structure based on a repeating isoprene unit (referred to as a monomer). Staudinger was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1953 for his contributions to chemistry.
Polymer and Monomer:
Polymer and monomer come from the Greek origins poly (many), mono (one), and meros (one) (part). Polymers are used to make a variety of key industrial products. Aside from societal concerns, their fast increase in manufacturing is driven by the need to replace traditional materials. New families of engineering materials known as polymers have been discovered and developed during the last century and a half, challenging traditional materials and allowing the creation of new goods that have helped to expand mankind’s range of activities.
Development of Polymeric Compounds:
Plastics have led the way in the development of polymeric compounds during the previous century and a half, followed by fibers and elastomers. Plastics have led the way in the development of this family of engineered materials throughout the previous century, followed by fibers and elastomers. Polymers are one of the major concepts of the twentieth century. It was first proposed in the 1920s, and its adoption is strongly linked to the name of H. Staudinger, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1953. Many synthetic polymers may be listed; some are well-known, such as polyesters or nylons, while others are less well-known, such as those used in medical applications for organs, degradable sutures, and so on. Plastic materials can be separated into a commodity (defined by high volume and cheap cost) and engineering plastics based on economic and application concerns (higher cost and low volume). Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) are included in the first category, whereas polycarbonate (PC), poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK), polyimide (PI), and others are included in the second. Natural, manufactured (modified natural), and synthetic fibers have high aspect ratios, high strength and modulus, and other qualities that vary depending on their use.