ABSTRACT
This chapter enhances the areas where an understanding of basic polymer principles is important as polymers are employed in many areas in today's society that is becoming increasingly dependent on materials that are polymeric. Polymers are major materials in the nanotechnology revolution, including as conductive (photo and electronic) materials. Delocalization of electrons throughout a polymer chain or matrix is important for electronic conductance. This is often accomplished through doping that encourages flow of electrons. Some polymeric materials become conductive when illuminated with light. For instance, poly(N-vinylcarbazole) is an insulator in the dark, but when exposed to UV radiation, it becomes conductive. Addition of electron acceptors and sensitizing dyes allows the photoconductive response to be extended into the visible and NIR regions. Polymers are used extensively in dentistry as composites, fillings, dental bases, teeth, cements, and adhesives. Polymers are also used as sutures. Sutures are generally divided into two broad categories. They are absorbable sutures and nonabsorbable sutures.
