The synthetic fibres, on the other hand, are made by human beings. That is why these are called synthetic or man-made fibres.
A synthetic fibre is also a chain of small units joined together. Each small unit is actually a chemical substance. Many such small units combine to form a large single unit called a polymer. The word ‘polymer’ comes from two Greek words; poly meaning many and mer meaning part/unit. So, a polymer is made of many repeating units.
There are various type's of the fiber available in the world and surrounding us. Here we will learn about the some of them-:
Rayon
A fibre was obtained by chemical treatment of wood pulp. This fibre was called rayon or artificial silk. rayon is obtained from a natural source, wood pulp, yet it is a man-made fibre. It is cheaper than silk and can be woven like silk fibres.
Nylon
Nylon is another man-made fibre. In 1931, it was made without using any natural raw material (from plant or animal). It was prepared from coal, water and air. It was the first fully synthetic fibre.
Nylon fibre was strong, elastic and light. It was lustrous and easy to wash. So, it became very popular for making clothes.
Polyester and Acrylic
Polyester is another synthetic fibre. Fabric made from this fibre does not get wrinkled easily. It remains crisp and is easy to wash. So, it is quite suitable for making dress material.
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a very familiar form of polyester. It is used for making bottles, utensils, films, wires and many other useful products.
Synthetic fibres possess unique characteristics which make them popular dress materials. They dry up quickly, are durable, less expensive, readily available and easy to maintain.
Plastic is also a polymer like the synthetic fibre. All plastics do not have the same type of arrangement of units. In some it is linear, whereas in others it is cross-linked.
Polythene (Poly+ethene) is an example of a plastic. It is used for making commonly used polythene bags.
There are some of plastics which when moulded once, can not be softened by heating. These are called thermosetting plastics.
Today if we think of storing a food item, water, milk, pickles, dry food etc., plastic containers seem most convenient. This is because of their light weight, lower price, good strength and easy handling. Being lighter as compared to metals, plastics are used in cars, aircrafts and spacecrafts, too.
Plastic is Non-reactive
Plastics do not react with water and air. They are not corroded easily. That is why they are used to store various kinds of material, including many chemicals.
Plastic is Light, Strong and Durable
Plastics are generally cheaper than metals. They are widely used in industry and for household articles. Make a list of different kinds of plastic containers that you use in daily life.
Plastics are Poor Conductors
Plastics are poor conductors of heat and electricity. That is why electrical wires have plastic covering, and handles of screw drivers are made of plastic.
A material which gets decomposed through natural processes, such as action by bacteria, is called biodegradable. A material which is not easily decomposed by natural processes is termed non-biodegradable.