Polymers

Polymers can be made 100% amorphous but not 100% crystalline. Inter-molecular bonds: Covalent and Van der Waals or Hydrogen.

Elastomers are a type of polymers.

Properties

• Has a repeating structure
• lightweight
• corrosion-resistant
• easy to process at low temperatures
• generally inexpensive
• generally low strength
• generally high toughness
• good heat, electrical insulators (but conductive polymers exist)

Examples

Plastics

• Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
• Polyethylene / Polythene (PE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Polypropylene used in kitchen-were
• Polymethylmethacrylite (PMMA) Perspex
  It’s transparent and lightweight. Used in aircraft windows and contact lenses.
• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Teflon
• Polysiloxane or Silicone (not to be confused with silicon which is a metalloid)

Rubber

• Polyisoprene / Natural rubber
• Styrenebutadiene rubber (SBR)