Synthetic polymers engineering materials

It has been a long way from early synthetic polymers created as artificial substitutes (Kunststoffe) for scarcening metal resources, to modem materials tailormade to fill specific functions through particular properties and processing characteristics in many areas of application. Ever since they were first prepared, surprising new or improved properties have been discovered or engineered. 

Abstract Synthetic polymers and biopolymers are extensively used within the field of tissue engineering. Some common examples of these materials include polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, elastin, and various forms of polysaccharides. In terms of application, these materials are primarily used in the construction of scaffolds that aid in the local delivery of cells and growth factors, and in many cases fulfill a mechanical role in supporting physiologic loads that would otherwise be supported by a healthy tissue. In this review we will examine the development of scaffolds derived from biopolymers and their use with various cell types in the context of tissue engineering the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. 

P A Gunatillake, P.A., and Adhikari. R., Biodegradable Synthetic Polymers for tissue engineering, European Cells and Materials Vol. 5. 2003 (pages 1-16). 

Polymers for membrane preparation can be classified into natural and synthetic ones. Polysaccharides and rubbers are important examples of natural membrane materials, but only cellulose derivatives are still used in large scale for technical membranes. By far the majority of current membranes are made from synthetic polymers (which, however, originally had been developed for many other engineering applications). Macromolecular structure is crucial for membrane barrier and other properties main factors include the chemical structure of the chain segments, molar mass (chain length), chain flexibility as well as intra- and intermolecular interactions. 

This introductory text is intended as the basis for a two- or three-semester course in synthetic polymers. It can also serve as a self-instruction guide for engineers and scientists without formal training in the subject who find themselves working with polymers. For this reason, the material covered begins with basic concepts and proceeds to current practice, where appropriate. 

An active, developing technology flourishes in synthetic polymers because of the great commercial importance of these materials. This technology teaches much that is of value in understanding the basic science and engineering of macromolecules, and the examples in this text are taken from industrial practice. 

From the outset polymer science has involved physicists, chemists, engineers, materials scientists and design engineers. The multidisciplinary nature of polymer science from its earliest days is a feature that is not often exhibited by other fields of natural science until a certain maturity has been reached. The synthetic polymer industry in the UK expanded greatly over the years from... 

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