IMPACT OF POLYMERS ON SOCIETY Example

IMPACT OF POLYMERS ON SOCIETY Example IMPACT OF POLYMERS ON SOCIETY â€" Essay Example > 1-INTRODUCTION In many years the development of polymers and other related materials has continued to gain a lot of interest more especially from the scientists. Perhaps this is due it is role in developing the society. The innovative process has been witnessed in many parts of the world and more especially in the developed world. Research has shown that production of polymers related products has increased across the world and this has been attributed to the multiplication of the applications of polymers in the society. The demand for plastic has continued to increase the world over [5]. In Europe for example the current usage rate of plastic is estimated to be above 100 kg per an individual in each single year. Plastic materials are non-biodegradable. Because of its resistance to degradation, there has been persistent struggle world over to produce those polymers that are biodegradable and that are friendly to the environment. However, as the innovation processes continue there is need to establish a variety of uses for them. There is need to have an integrated system of management that will be applied to dispose the polymer wastes and recycle them. The polymer sources, usage, reuse and recycling need to be taken into consideration to ensure that benefits outweigh the cost. The ultimate objective of this assessment is to evaluate the impact of polymers in the society by looking both at its positive and negative effects. 2-POSITIVE IMPACT2-1-1-Medical applications Both natural and artificial polymers have continued to get more support perhaps because of its role in functioning in human body parts. This is because polymers can be used as replacements or supplements for different body parts such as hips, joints, knees, breasts and dental parts. This application has seen a lot of development of quality of life especially to those people who have problems that are associated with failure to function by one or more of the body parts. The polymers that are comm only used to replace body parts include: the polyethylene (PE), the polyurethane (PU), the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyacetal (PA), the polylactic acid (PLA), the polypropylene (PP) and the Polysulfone (PS). Given the fact that different polymers are made from different materials, they have enabled the medicine sector to better its services by applying some of these polymers to different functions within the medical sector. Polymers are also characterized by there forms which make it easier for them to be modified into different shapes in order to serve different needs. Since polymers have a quality of being strong materials, they do qualify to be used develop artificial structures such as bone plates as well as nails [Table 1]. Table 1: different materials used in medical applications 2-1-2-Joint ReplacementJoints play a very vital role in the body of a human body. This is because it is by their existence that body parts can move. Ideally, it is through flexible joints th at human beings can walk and remain flexible all the time. In some cases joints may develop some complications which may be related to injuries and fractures and even illness [7]. In such cases polymers are used by medical practitioners either to supplement or totally replace the affected joints [Figure 1].