BIOPOLYMERS .

JHON RUIZ ALVAREZ

OCTOBER 2019
 DEFINITION

 Polymers are chemical compounds that are formed by the repeated

union of molecules, those particles formed by atoms of which nature is
composed. In a very graphic way, we could imagine a polymer like a plate
of spaghetti. Each spaghetti would be an individual polymer chain formed
by repetitions of the minimum structural unit that is repeated therein,
and which is called a monomer. There are many types of polymers, some
natural such as silk or rubber, and other synthetic ones, such as nylon.
 CLASSIFICATION

Biopolymers have been classified according to their method of production in 3 categories:

 Petroleum based biopolymers: these polymers are synthesized from petroleum resources, but are
biodegradable at the end of their functionality.
 Biopolymers from renewable resources: those that are naturally synthesized from plants and animals, or fully
synthesized from renewable resources.
 Biopolymers from mixed sources: manufactured from combinations of biologically based materials and
petroleum-derived monomers.
 PROPERTIES

 In general, biopolymers have thermal, mechanical and barrier

properties to gases, aromas or water vapor lower than
synthetic polymers, which limits or prevents their use for
certain applications. But these impediments can be saved and, in
fact, they are working with nanotechnologies to develop
materials that overcome these deficiencies.
 APPLICATIONS
The group with the greatest use of biomaterials is made of synthetic polymer materials; They are used in applications such
as sutures, containers for external use to the body (blood oxygenators, hemodialysis), vascular grafts, heart valves, tubes,
connectors, bags.

For example:

 - Polyamides (nylon 6/6) and polypropylene are used as suture material.

 - PVC is used in tubes and bags for the storage of blood and pharmaceutical products.
 - PET is used for vascular grafts of considerable diameter.
 - PMMA is material used as femoral fixation cement, for intraocular lenses and for hip prostheses.
 - PTFE is used as membranes for vascular, periodontal grafts and as ligament prostheses.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 https://blogs.20minutos.es/ciencia-para-llevar-csic/2015/08/12/biopolimeros-los-plasticos-del-futuro/
 https://www.mexpolimeros.com/clasificaci%C3%B3n%20de%20los%20biopol%C3%ADmeros.html
 https://tecnopolimeros.blogspot.com/2012/09/aplicaciones-de-biopolimeros.html