ABSTRACT
The chapter deals with industrial polymers, that is, those that are produced on very large, large, and relatively large scales, including the so-called engineering polymers that possess superior mechanical properties for engineering applications. All these polymers have been classified into three broad categories—addition polymers (i.e., chains consisting entirely of C–C bonds), condensation polymers (i.e., chains with hetero-atoms, e.g., O, N, S, Si, in the backbone), and special polymers (i.e., products with special properties, such as temperature and fire resistance, photosensitivity, electrical conductivity, and piezoelectric properties). Further classification of addition, condensation, and special polymers has been made on the basis of monomer composition, and all important polymers in each class discussed elaborately with focus on production methods, characteristic properties, and principal applications. The main such classes are polyolefins and copolymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyisobutylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, styrene–butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, etc.), acrylics (polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylates, polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, etc.), vinyl polymers (polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, etc.), polyesters (polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, unsaturated polyesters, aromatic polyesters, etc.), polyamides (aliphatic polyamides, aromatic polyamides, polyimides), formaldehyde resins, polyurethanes, ether polymers, cellulosic polymers, and sulfide polymers. Polysulfones, polyether ketones, polybenzimidazole, silicones, and other inorganic polymers are included under the special polymers category. Polyblends, including industrial polyblends, nanoblends, and interpenetrating network polymers, are also given due coverage.
