Задание 6

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Polymers

Life depends on organic polymers. Nearly all the material needs of man could be supplied by natural organic products. The list of these materials and things made from them might be very long: wood, fur, leather, wood, cotton, silk, rubber, oil, paper and so on. The organic polymers which these things are made from include: proteins, cellulose, starch, resins and a few other classes of compounds.

Synthetic polymers possess several of the properties required in a structural material. They are light in weight, easily transported, easily repaired, highly resistant to corrosion and solvents, and satisfactorily resistant to moisture. It would be necessary to add that they have long- lived durability and resistance to high temperature.

It was only in the 20th century that scientists began thorough investigation of these materials. Having used some powerful physical instruments, an electron microscope, viscosimeter, they could have revealed the polymers in all their intricacy. Their molecules were incredibly large.

The giant molecules can be composed of a large number of repeating units and they are given the name “polymer” from the Greek word “poly” (many) and “meros” (a part). Many polymers have the form of long flexible chains.

Now the chemists synthesize artificial polymers. This has led to the establishment of industries producing synthetic fibers and numerous polymeric materials.