Polymers

The use of polymeric materials from renewable resources has a long history, with naturally occurring polymers being among the first materials used by men. In the 19th century, natural materials, such as casein, natural rubber, and cellulose, were modified to obtain useful polymeric materials. Over the past few decades, the production and application of synthetic polymers have seen an almost exponential increase.

Natural polymers are macromolecules found in nature, composed of long chains of repeated subunits. They are synthesized by living organisms and include materials such as cellulose, proteins, and DNA. This poster provides an introduction to natural polymers.