Impact of Polymers on Society - Essay Example

Running Header: Assessment on the Impact of Polymers on Society Surname: First Names: Student Number: Institution: Course Number: Course Name: Assignment Due Date: 1-INTRODUCTION In many years the development of polymers and other related materials has continued to gain a lot of interest more especially from the scientists. Perhaps this is due it is role in developing the society. The innovative process has been witnessed in many parts of the world and more especially in the developed world. Research has shown that production of polymers related products has increased across the world and this has been attributed to the multiplication of the applications of polymers in the society. The demand for plastic has continued to increase the world over [5]. In Europe for example the current usage rate of plastic is estimated to be above 100 kg per an individual in each single year. Plastic materials are non-biodegradable. Because of its resistance to degradation, there has been persistent struggle world over to produce those polymers that are biodegradable and that are friendly to the environment. However, as the innovation processes continue there is need to establish a variety of uses for them. There is need to have an integrated system of management that will be applied to dispose the polymer wastes and recycle them. The polymer sources, usage, reuse and recycling need to be taken into consideration to ensure that benefits outweigh the cost. The ultimate objective of this assessment is to evaluate the impact of polymers in the society by looking both at its positive and negative effects. 2-POSITIVE IMPACT 2-1-1-Medical applications Both natural and artificial polymers have continued to get more support perhaps because of its role in functioning in human body parts. This is because polymers can be used as replacements or supplements for different body parts such as hips, joints, knees, breasts and dental parts. This application has seen a lot of development of quality of life especially to those people who have problems that are associated with failure to function by one or more of the body parts. The polymers that are commonly used to replace body parts include: the polyethylene (PE), the polyurethane (PU), the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyacetal (PA), the polylactic acid (PLA), the polypropylene (PP) and the Polysulfone (PS). Given the fact that different polymers are made from different materials, they have enabled the medicine sector to better its services by applying some of these polymers to different functions within the medical sector. Polymers are also characterized by there forms which make it easier for them to be modified into different shapes in order to serve different needs. Since polymers have a quality of being strong materials, they do qualify to be used develop artificial structures such as bone plates as well as nails [Table 1]. Table 1: different materials used in medical applications 2-1-2-Joint Replacement Joints play a very vital role in the body of a human body. This is because it is by their existence that body parts can move. Ideally, it is through flexible joints that human beings can walk and remain flexible all the time. In some cases joints may develop some complications which may be related to injuries and fractures and even illness [7]. In such cases polymers are used by medical practitioners either to supplement or totally replace the affected joints [Figure 1]. Figure 1: Joints that can be replaced by polymers 2-1-3-Total Hip replacement (THR) Human beings’ hips can be replaced by use of the polymers objects. These manmade hips are designed in such away that they can fit into the ace tabular cup. 2-1-4-Total knee replacement (TKR) In many occasions knees are always exposed to injuries and dislocations more than the other body parts. The process of replacing knees is based on the development of tibial and femoral parts of the knees. The femoral is applied as a rubbing on top of the tibial to fully develop the artificial knee. The commonly used femoral parts include the Ti and Co-Cr alloys while the tibial parts include the ‘UHMWPE’ polymer which is included in the metallic tibial tray [8]. 2-1-5-Replacement of bones The affected human bones are filled with the polymers known as the bone grafts. It is the strength of these polymers that qualify to be good substitutes for replacing the affected bones. These synthetic grafts can be used by medical practitioners to develop artificial legs and hands. The polymers can also be used to fill weak bones in order to reinforce them. 2-1-6-Dental usage Affected teeth can also be filled or replaced by use of polymers. Different polymers can be used to treat the teeth. The major dental applications include the smoothening and lining of the tooth cavity, filling the corroded teeth cavities, bridging, crowning and luting. In the current world polymers are used as teeth replacements following ever rising dental complications [5]. Polymers are also applied by dentists to prevent teeth from infections. In order to support dental surgery, the polymer known as the BIS-GMA has been developed to aid the process. Different teeth tissue complications are also corrected by use of polymers as implants. In summary, polymers are used by dentists to repair weak tissues, fill open spaces and offer artificial reinforcement to the teeth. 2-1-7-Drug Delivery: Propylene glycol is the commonly used drug delivery composite. Drugs that are carried and packed in these polymers can easily be absorbed into the body tissues and blood system without posing any medical danger to the user. This polymer is so useful in that it is used to ensure that the drug is safe and protected from reacting to the open environment. 2-1-8-Developing medical instruments Use of different polymer materials has seen great advancements in developing different medical instruments. While manufacturing the microscope and medical x-rays films, polymer materials are used to reinforce the carbon element within in order to ensure effectiveness in its application. Following numerous applications of the polymers in the medical field, the quality of life has real improved worldwide [3]. 2-2-TRANSPORT: Polymers have made great contribution to the transport sector. Different polymers are used to manufacture various parts of motor vehicles. This is commonly done for manufacturing car batteries. The main reason for using polymers in manufacturing car batteries is because they are energy efficient and that they can last longer than the ordinary batteries. In addition, these car batteries are easily disposable and therefore friendlier to the environment [1]. 2-2-1-Tyers It is through tyres that vehicles can be in motion. However, the strength of the tyre is what determines the capacity of the vehicle. The manufacturing of tyres requires good composition of natural and synthetic rubber. The commonly used polymers in manufacturing tyres include butadiene alkenes hydrocarbon, styrene and isoprene are the monomers. These polymers are used to produce synthetic rubber which is then used for manufacturing tyres. Some parts of the gear pumps are also made of synthetic polymer materials [2]. In summary, polymers have continued to support the transport industry through an increased level of efficiency for the moving machines through the manufacturing of tires and gear pumps and ideal that has aided the society’s effort to protect the environment from harmful plastic materials [Figure 2, 3). Figure 2: Section of a tyre manufactured from polymers Figure 3: Gear pump partly manufactured from polymers 2-3- PACKAGING The polypropylene’s quality of being resistant to heat burning, and it is high level of electrical properties and resistance to fatigue, has made the polymer one of the best synthetic materials for manufacturing sterilizable bottles as well as packaging films. The polymer is also used in manufacturing TV cabinets. This is because the polymer is chemically inert and relatively inexpensive. The other polymers that are being used for manufacturing packaging materials include the pollulan, chitosan and poly-L-lactic acid which are used to manufacture food packaging materials. This application has seen more advanced methods of packaging and storing food in a healthier way as opposed to traditional methods that proved to be very poisonous to the society [7]. 2-4-Reservation of historical building World over, there are several buildings that are considered as heritage. However, to ensure that is buildings are safe and continue to exist different polymers in form of plastic materials have been used to reinforce them. The most commonly used polymer is the carbon fibre. This is because the fibre is said to be strong and relatively elastic and therefore can be so resistance to external forces such as earthquakes. Examples of historical buildings include long bridges, buildings and very old building which are perceived to hold some level of significance to the society [1]. These structures are considered to have some level of significance to the society. Just to mention, old church buildings, temples and mosques are good examples of those buildings that have some level of significance to the society. In addition, polystyrene materials are used in modern buildings as furnishings. A good example is the wall tiles and indoor lighting panels. The polymers are also used as housing appliances. The qualities that make these polymers fit for furnishing houses include: excellent electrical properties, optical clarity, inexpensive and it dimensional stability. Table below shows properties of different polymers [Table 2]. Table 2: Performance of different polymers based on their properties 2-5-AGRICULTURE Agriculture is also one of the many sectors of the society that polymers have real contributed to. In agriculture, polymers are not only limited to the manufacture of film covers but also perform other several functions. Different containers such as plant pots are also manufactured from polymers. These pots are directly placed into the soil and once the seeds germinate they breakdown. Fertilizer storage and delivery bags are also prepared from polymers and perhaps this is because they easily decompose. From the agricultural point of view, after polymers have decomposed they are considered to have added some nutrients to the soil [3]. The commonly agricultural polymers include polyvinyl alcohol, PVC and poly ethylene –co- acrylic acid. Polycaprolactone is the one used as a planting container. The other polymers such as Starch, Cellulose, chitin, lignin and alginic acid are used as the control release. From the agricultural point of view, polymers have been used to better production and quality of agricultural produce. This is because some of the polymers are used to protect the crops from invasion by the insecticides and parasites. 2-6-SENSORS APPLICATION In the electronic industry, polymers have been used to manufacture different measuring devices including the gas sensor, the acidity and alkalinity indicator and the alcoholic level sensors. This is because the properties of these polymers are relatively cheap and transparent. The table below shows the various characteristics of different sensor needs. Some of the polymers are good conductors of electricity and therefore they are applied as coating on the conduction electrodes. The commonly used polymer for conduction is the Polyacetylene. The property that qualifies the polymer to be a good conductor of electricity is founded on its ability to react to iodine vapour when it comes into contact with it [Table 3]. Some materials that are non polymers are also applied in manufacturing the sensor devices as sensor receptors. One such example of a polymer that is used as a receptor on the sensor is the Phthaocyamine and they are applied as a coating and used as an ethanol sensor [4]. While Methacrylic are used as nucleotides and receptor agents, the conducting and non conducting polymers such as amino acids and herbicide sensors are used as biosensors. Table 3: list of polymers used in gas sensors 2-7- COMMUNICATION Like many other areas of the infrastructure and economy, polymers have contributed greatly in the communication sector. Phenolics are the commonly used polymers in the communication industry. This is because they posses some qualities such as good thermal stability, several resins and fillers and inexpensive. These characteristics are the ones that qualify them to motor houses, telephone wires and cables as well as auto distributors and electrical fixtures [4]. Even though quite a number of polymers are poor conductors of electricity they have continued to gain much attention more especially for use as insulators thus increasing their demand by the communication industry. Ideally, since the application of polymers came into existence the world community has had a lot of advances with regard to efficiency in communication. This has even led into the development of the fibre optic cables and aerial cables and satellites which have real simplified and enabled communication world over. 2-8-Environmental impacts Research has been going on world over to establish ways in environmental requirements can be integrated in the polymers processing systems in order to make sure that in no way the environment is hurt. The process of recycling the polymers has been used to achieve this objective. The first advantage of applying polymers is that materials used as input can be replaced by use of natural cycles. Secondly, the process of recycling polymers’ feedstocks is friendly to the environment since they are biodegradable. This is very safe to the environment as opposed to disposal of the equivalent plastic materials. Recycling of polymer materials has been considered as an important technique to ensure the complacent rules to the environment conservation are adhered to [3]. Generally, use of polymers has offered a relatively stable solution to saving the environment and thus preventing the environment from harmful materials. Determining the life cycle of a polymer material in the recent years has been considered as the best method to feedstocks that are used for manufacturing polymers is friendly to the environment. However, used polymer materials have remained to be a threat to some parts of the environment including the marine environment and the ocean waters [6]. Many living organisms have continued to loose live as a result of irresponsible disposal of plastic materials on water bodies and dry land. This is because some of the plastic materials contain very toxic substances which are very harmful to the living organisms. From this point of view, then it can be argued that even though polymers materials have helped in protecting the environment to some level, there have also been numerous challenges especially with regard to land utilization, food processing and marine life. 2-9-Conclusion In concluding this assessment, it is important to highlight that several lessons have been learnt. First, it has been found that world over the consumption rate of plastic materials is very high and thus posing a lot of challenge to the environment. However, with the discovery of the polymers a lot has been achieved in improving the quality of life and reducing environmental pollution. Second, the assessment has also established that there are numerous benefits that are associated with the application of polymers starting with it usage in the medical field, transport, communication, agriculture, packaging, building and construction and manufacturing of sensors. In the medical field, polymers are used drug delivery, dental treatment and replacement, hips replacement and joint replacement. On the other hand in the transport sector, polymers are used in manufacturing batteries, gear pumps and tyres. In terms of environmental implications, polymers are relatively favourable to the environment as opposed to the ordinary plastic materials. In general terms, polymers have proved to be very useful in improving the quality of human life based on it’s on numerous applications which overweigh the negative impacts. REFERENCES 1. Adhikari B, Majumdar S . Polymers in sensor applications. Progress in Polymer Science 2004; 29(7): 699-766. 2. Fredrik-Selin, J. Lactic acid formed into biodegradable polymer. Advanced Materials and Processes 2002; 160(5): 13. 3. Krumpelt M, Krause TM. Fuel processing for fuel cell systems in transportation and portable power applications. Catalysis Today2002; 77(1-2): 3- 6. 4. Ramakrishna S, Mayer J, Wintermantel E, Kwm W, Leong. Biomedical applications of polymer- composite materials: a review. Composites Science and Technology 2001; 61(9): 1189-1224. 5. Salmoral, EM., Gonzalez, ME., Mariscal, MP. Biodegradable plastic made from bean products. Industrial Crops and Products 2000; 11: 217-225. 6. Stevens, ES. What makes green plastics green? Biocycle 2003; 44(3): 24-27. 7. Tharanathan, RN. Biodegradable films and composite coatings: Past, present, and future. Trends in Food Science and Technology 2003; 14: 71-78. 8. Williams, G, Pool, R,. Composites from natural fibers and soy oil resins. Applied Composite Materials 2000;7(5-6): 421-432. Read More