Nowadays, synthetic polymers are used in almost all walks of life. Modern society would look very different without them. The spreading of polymer use is connected to their unique properties: low density, low cost, good thermal/electrical insulation properties, high resistance to corrosion, low-energy demanding polymer manufacture and facile processing into final products. For a given application, the properties of a polymer can be tuned or enhanced by combination with other materials, as in composites. Their application allows to save energy (lighter cars and planes, thermally insulated buildings), protect food and drinking water (packaging), save land and lower use of fertilizers (synthetic fibres), preserve other materials (coatings), protect and save lives (hygiene, medical applications). A representative, non-exhaustive list of applications is given below.
* Clothing, sportswear and accessories: polyester and PVC clothing, spandex, sport shoes, wetsuits, footballs and billiard balls, skis and snowboards, rackets, parachutes, sails, tents and shelters.
* Electronic and photonic technologies: organic field effect transistors (OFET), light emitting diodes (OLED) and solar cells, television components, compact discs (CD), photoresists, holography.
* Packaging and containers: films, bottles, food packaging, barrels.
* Insulation: electrical and thermal insulation, spray foams.
* Construction and structural applications: garden furniture, PVC windows, flooring, sealing, pipes.
* Paints, glues and lubricants: varnish, adhesives, dispersants, anti-graffiti coatings, antifouling coatings, non-stick surfaces, lubricants.
* Car parts: tires, bumpers, windshields, windscreen wipers, fuel tanks, car seats.
* Household items: buckets, kitchenware, toys (e.g., construction sets and Rubik's cube).
* Medical applications: blood bag, syringes, rubber gloves, surgical suture, contact lenses, prosthesis, controlled drug delivery and release, matrices for cell growth.
* Personal hygiene and healthcare: diapers using superabsorbent polymers, toothbrushes, cosmetics, shampoo, condoms.
* Security: personal protective equipment, bulletproof vests, space suits, ropes.
* Separation technologies: synthetic membranes, fuel cell membranes, filtration, ion-exchange resins.
* Money: polymer banknotes and payment cards.
* 3D printing.