The scarcity of natural polymers during the world war years led to the development of synthetic polymers like nylon, acrylic, neoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polyethylene. The increasing popularity of synthetic polymers is partly due to the fact that there are unlimited and economic avenues for modification of chemical structure to obtain a product with specific properties. However, this rampant use of petroleum products has created a twin dilemma; depletion of petroleum resources and entrapment of plastics in the food chain and environment.
Reference:
John, M.J., and Thomas, S. 2012. Natural Polymers: An Overview. In: Natural Polymers: Volume 1: Composites. Royal Society of Chemistry publishing: Burlington House, London
John, M. J., & Thomas, S. (2012). Natural polymers: An overview., Workflow;9687 Royal Society of Chemistry. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6604
John, Maya J, and S Thomas. "Natural polymers: an overview" In WORKFLOW;9687, n.p.: Royal Society of Chemistry. 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6604.
John MJ, Thomas S. Natural polymers: an overview.. Workflow;9687. [place unknown]: Royal Society of Chemistry; 2012. [cited yyyy month dd]. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6604.
