Category Polymers

           Most babies are fed using feeding bottles. A plastic called polycarbonate is used to make feeding bottles because it is strong, durable and heat resistant to an extent. It can be sterilized easily and would not soak up odours. When it was first introduced, it was commonly accepted as a suitable substitute for glass and ceramic. Polycarbonate is preferred for making the inner linings of food containers and reusable plastic bottles as well.

           Though polycarbonate is a preferred material, it is not essentially safe. A harmful substance known as bisphenol-A leaches out of the polymer and gets mixed with food. This chemical can cause health issues. It changes the level of oestrogen in our bodies.

           Polyethylene bags have multiple applications in our daily life. Though we use polyethylene products at least five times a day, they are not entirely safe.

           Lead and cadmium are used as additives in polyethylene. These metals are toxic and are known to leach out.

           Lead affects the nervous system; it is capable of causing unconsciousness, heart attacks, respiratory diseases and even death.

           Cadmium affects the cells and tissues of the kidneys and causes inflammation. It can also lead to diabetes. If these metals leach into the soil, it will result in soil and groundwater contamination.

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           You would be thinking that it is ridiculous to ask something like this. But, solar cooking stoves and nail polish have something in common- a polymer called Mylar.

           Mylar is a special type of stretched polyester generally known as BoPET. It is also known as Melinax and Hostaphan. Don’t be confused with too many names. It is made of polyethylene terphtalate (PET) monomers. It is transparent and chemically stable. It also provides good electrical insulation.

           Mylar is used for making packaging and lids for food products. It is also used as a covering over paper or clothing. This coating gives a shiny surface and a protective coating. It is used in a range of other products like the diaphragms of headphones.

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           When you pour the dosa batter on a non-stick pan, the flour is sticky. But you can easily take out the dosa from the pan with a wooden spatula once it’s cooked. You don’t have to smear the pan with oil like the traditional ones. Wonder why? This would not be possible if not for the Teflon coating in the pans.

          Teflon does not melt easily. It has a high melting point and is also stable at very low temperatures. Teflon is extremely resistant to corrosion. It cannot be dissolved by most of the materials. In addition to this, it is very slippery and has high resistance corrosive chemicals. Therefore, Teflon provides a perfect coating material for cooking utensils that resists heat, friction and wear and tear. Teflon is also used widely in carpets, wall coverings, paints and as weatherproofing on outdoor signs.

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           Teflon is familiar to all of us from the advertisements of non-stick cookware and paints. But, Teflon is just the brand name. Polytetrafluoroethylene is the chemical name of Teflon. Quite a mouthful, right?

           Teflon is a compound made of tetrafluoroethylene monomers. The discovery of Teflon was not deliberate. A young scientist named Roy Plunkett who worked at Du Pont accidentally made Teflon while he was working on a refrigerant compound. He combined hydrochloric acid with tetrafluoroethylene to obtain a new compound.

           The gas formed in the reaction cooled down and transformed to a white powder overnight forming the new material – Teflon.

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            Kevlar belongs to the aramid family of fibres. So is twaron. Twaron shares many similarities with kevlar. It has a high tensile strength and shows great thermal stability just like kevlar. Twaron neither burns, nor melts. It also shows high resistance to chemical substances.

           Twaron was invented by a Dutch company named AKZO in the 1970s. But, it was not commercially produced until 1986, because of financial troubles. When it was first produced, twaron was called ‘fibreX’. Now, a company called Teijin produces twaron.

           Twaron too is used for making bulletproof body armour. It is also used to make optical fibre cables and substitutes for asbestos.

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           Do you have shiny, plastic cookware and plates in your kitchen? Most of these plates are made of melamine.

           Melamine is an organic compound which is mostly made of nitrogen. It is used to make a lot of industrial products like dinnerware, adhesives, glues, coatings and flame retardants.

           These days, urea is used as a starting material for the production of melamine. It can also be made from dicyandiamide or hydrogen cyanide. Urea is broken down and reacted to form melamine-formaldehyde resins.

           This can be moulded into different shapes forming dishes, handles, containers and so on.

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