list of synthetic polymers

{{Short description|List of human-made polymers}}

Some familiar household synthetic polymers include: Nylons in textiles and fabrics, Teflon in non-stick pans, Bakelite for electrical switches, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in pipes, etc. The common PET bottles are made of a synthetic polymer, polyethylene terephthalate. The plastic kits and covers are mostly made of synthetic polymers like polythene, and tires are manufactured from polybutadienes.{{cite book|author1=Andrew J. Peacock|author2=Allison R. Calhoun|title=Polymer Chemistry: Properties and Applications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPrfQJuDE3YC&pg=PA1|access-date=15 July 2012|date=30 June 2006|publisher=Hanser Verlag|isbn=978-1-56990-397-1|pages=1–}} However, due to the environmental issues created by these synthetic polymers which are mostly non-biodegradable and often synthesized from petroleum, alternatives like bioplastics are also being considered. They are however expensive when compared to the synthetic polymers.{{cite book|author=Srikanth Pilla|title=Handbook of Bioplastics and Biocomposites Engineering Applications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UX-9Z5jx-IsC|access-date=15 July 2012|date=15 September 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-17704-4|page=154}}

{{Quote box

|title =IUPAC definition

|quote = Artificial polymer: Man-made polymer that is not a biopolymer.

Note 1: Artificial polymer should also be used in the case of chemically
modified biopolymers.

Note 2: Biochemists are now capable of synthesizing copies of biopolymers
that should be named Synthetic biopolymer to make a distinction
with true biopolymers.

Note 3: Genetic engineering is now capable of generating non-natural analogues
of biopolymers that should be referred to as artificial biopolymers, e.g.,
artificial protein, artificial polynucleotide, etc.{{cite journal|title=Glossary of Basic Terms in Polymer Science|journal=Pure and Applied Chemistry|year=1996|volume=68|issue=12|pages=2287–2301|doi=10.1351/goldbook.A00250|isbn=978-0-9678550-9-7|doi-access=free}}

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