Polymers are made up of lots of molecules linked together to
form long chains. They are particularly important because their
physical characteristics vary by which molecules are used and
how they are put together. Their properties reflect this. We are
all familiar with the plastic bag but this is just one
particularly useful example of polymer technology. One
definition of the word plastic is pliable; something that can be
easily shaped or moulded. It is this shaping property that makes
polymers so widely used. The amazing diversity of polymer
structure means that some are hard like the carbon fibre that is
used in F1 motor racing cars; used for its great strength and
low weight. Some are sticky (like silicone which we use as a
sealant round the bath) and others are soft like plastic bags we
put our shopping in. This rich versatility arises from the fact
that every plastic has a certain temperature above which it is
soft and can be shaped. Over the last 20 years a lot of
development work has gone into updatin