In this blog post, we will look at the origin and development process of synthetic resin that permeates every corner of our daily lives, and think about its possibilities and value in the future industry and environment.
This morning, I woke up on a soft, fluffy mattress that provides me with a comfortable night’s sleep every night. I chose this mattress in particular because of its special foamed polystyrene material, which provides proper support for the spine while naturally conforming to the curves of the body. As soon as I wake up, I pick up the plastic bottle of water next to my mattress and drink it down in one gulp. The coolness of the water, which I feel along with the freshness of the morning, always makes me feel good.
The soft morning sunlight shines through the large window in my room, coloring the entire room yellow. These windows are not just glass, but are made of polycarbonate, which effectively blocks light and provides thermal insulation in winter. This allows me to maintain a comfortable indoor environment throughout the year. Today is Sunday. Sunday, the most relaxing day of the week, has a special meaning for me. After riding around the neighborhood on my new bike, which I bought because of its very comfortable saddle, I plan to meet up with friends for a game of billiards. This bike has a lightweight aluminum frame and a saddle made of polyurethane and technogel, so you won’t feel tired even after riding for a long time. I’m going to take a ride on my new bike, meet up with my friends, and play billiards.
Although this is just a short and concise account of my extremely ordinary daily life, synthetic resins are deeply involved in our lives in many ways and are fulfilling their role as hidden helpers. The foam polystyrene bed mattress that made me sleep comfortably all night, the polyethylene terephthalate water bottle that quenched my thirst in the morning, Polycarbonate windows that let the morning sunlight fill the room softly, polyurethane and technogel fillers in bicycles, and the clear sound that rings out every time a billiard ball collides with another. In the small details of our daily lives, synthetic resins play an important role without flaunting their presence.
However, not many people have thought about where these synthetic resins originated and how they have developed. Like all human inventions, synthetic resins did not appear overnight. They originated from latex, a white liquid extracted from the rubber tree used by indigenous South Americans. This natural rubber was difficult to maintain its shape and was sensitive to temperature, limiting its use in everyday life. However, in the 20th century, the situation changed dramatically with the development of synthetic rubber. A new material and paradigm called synthetic resin was born, and it began to affect many aspects of our lives.
As the era of synthetic resins began, new types of synthetic resins were continuously developed. Why was it possible to develop such a wide variety of synthetic resins? The secret lies in the monomers, which are the basic components of synthetic resins. The monomer acts like a Lego block. These monomers combine to form long chains, which intertwine to form polymers, which are synthetic resins. Just as different Lego blocks can be combined to create different types of works, different types of synthetic resins can be made by combining monomers.
Now, let’s take a deeper look at the factors that determine the properties and types of synthetic resins. The types of synthetic resins basically depend on the type of monomer, but that’s not all. In addition to the monomer, the addition of auxiliary monomers, the length of the chain, the arrangement of the chain, and the use of additives are the main factors that determine the properties of synthetic resins. For example, auxiliary monomers serve to add monomers with different properties to the main monomer to give it new characteristics. Just as there are many colors and sizes of LEGO blocks, using various auxiliary monomers can create synthetic resins with completely different properties.
The role of additives cannot be overlooked. Additives are important elements that complement the shortcomings of synthetic resins and give them additional properties. Additives can be divided into four categories. First, flame retardants reduce the flammability and combustibility of synthetic resins. For example, chlorine and bromine compounds reduce the flammability of synthetic resins, while phosphorus compounds mitigate their combustibility. Second, softeners increase the flexibility of synthetic resins, allowing them to be used in a wider range of applications. Phthalates and epoxides are examples of typical softeners. Third, fillers increase the volume of synthetic resins to improve their economic efficiency. Finally, stabilizers protect synthetic resins from damage caused by external environments such as ultraviolet rays, oxygen, and heat.
These various elements determine the properties of synthetic resins, and as a result, synthetic resins have evolved through a wide variety of changes. The potential for the development of synthetic resins is endless. For example, recently, synthetic resins have been developed that are stronger than steel, and as a result, high-performance parts such as airplane wings are sometimes made of synthetic resins. Although there is a limit to the materials that can be obtained from nature, synthetic resins open up endless possibilities that can overcome that limit. For example, if you need a material that is light, elastic, heat-resistant, and electrically conductive, it would be difficult to find such a material in nature, but you can create such a material through synthetic resins. In this way, synthetic resins have given humans the power of “divinity.”
Of course, synthetic resins have their own problems. Synthetic resins such as PET bottles and plastic bags take a long time to decompose naturally, so they are often pointed out as the main culprit of environmental pollution. However, there are ways to overcome these problems. Many solutions are currently being studied through recycling, and the development of biodegradable synthetic resins is also underway. If these efforts bear fruit, synthetic resins will be able to achieve more sustainable development in harmony with the environment.
Today, many people live without realizing how deeply synthetic resins have permeated our lives and how important they are. But why not pay a little more attention to the synthetic resins hidden in our daily lives? Such a small interest can be the first step towards a better life in the future.
