Polymer Materials in Daily Life: Classification, Applications, and Future Prospects

. As science and technology continue to advance, the field of polymer chemistry has become a highly researched area. Polymer materials are now widely used in various aspects of our everyday lives, showcasing the versatility and practicality of this discipline. As people's lives become more affluent, their reliance on polymer materials has also grown stronger. This article aims to provide a brief overview of polymer materials, including their classification and applications. By exploring the various uses of polymer materials, the goal is to identify new opportunities for their application and contribute to enhancing people's quality of life.


Introduction
As society advances and people's expectations for a high quality of life grow, synthetic polymer materials have become essential products in people's daily lives, providing convenience and fundamentally changing many aspects of daily routines. This paper delves deeper into the classification of polymer materials and their close relationship with people. Additionally, it discusses the current limitations of these materials and presents suggestions for future research and development directions. Through this exploration, the hope is to further understanding of polymer materials and their potential for improving our lives.

Definition and classification of polymer materials
Polymer materials are high-molecular-weight compounds, which are synthesized by a series of chemical reactions. These polymer materials are more widely used in the market, and depending on their application characteristics. Summarized in Table 1, polymer materials include mainly plastic, rubber and fibre, which are the three parts. In addition, polymer also includes some coatings, colouring and other functions of molecular composite materials [1] . Nature is made up of many similar polymeric substances, such as proteins, starch, wool, silk, and so on, which are the basic substances that make up living organisms. In the early days of relatively low technology, human beings started using these polymeric substances to improve their lives such as keeping warm by making clothing out of wool and so on. Which is the largest feature of metallic materials such as iron, copper, and non-metallic inorganic materials such as calcium carbonate and magnesium sulphate, which are widely available around people, is that they are mass-heavy and inconvenient, while the most obvious characteristic of polymer materials and the above materials is that polymer materials are composed of elements such as C, H, O, and N. The relative molecular mass of these elements is small [2] , therefore, most polymer materials are light in mass, and this feature also This characteristic makes polymer materials widely used in everyday life. Polymeric materials are available in a vast array of materials from diverse sources and can be manufactured at a low cost, making them an attractive option for a wide range of manufacturers to incorporate into their production processes.

Plastic
Plastic is the most common polymer material in everyday life, but plastics are not only made up of polymer materials, to ensure the normal use of plastic, in the manufacturing process it is also necessary to add a few external excipients including lubricants, stabilizers, colouring agents, et al [3] . Packaging bags, snack bags, and so on are all made up of plastic and can be seen everywhere. Plastics are widely used in everyday life because they are lightweight and do not change shape with temperature change, and they are impermeable to some degree to ensure the dryness of the contents of the package. However, it should be noted that plastic cannot be degraded, which brings certain harm to the bad environment, and, once burned, plastic will produce a large amount of toxic gas, which brings certain harm to people's health.

Fibres
Fibre is another commonly used polymer material in everyday applications. There are two categories of fibres: naturally occurring cellulose and chemically synthesized cellulose. Natural cellulose is mainly found in fruits, seeds, plant hairs, and other cellulose-rich vegetables in the wild. Chemical cellulose refers to products made through chemical processing, and chemical fibres are often used in the textile and clothing industries. Nowadays, most people's clothing is made from synthetic cellulose.

Polymer film
Polymer membranes have become essential components in people's lives, promoting an increase in their standard of living. The SEM image of the polymer membranes is shown in Figure 1 below. By using filtration, polymer membranes allow purification of water resources, which is important for maintaining the freshness and purity of drinking water. This plays a vital role in safeguarding people's health by eliminating various harmful impurities present in water [4] . Moreover, the development of polymer membrane technology has brought about significant economic progress in China and increased the value of this technology.

Application of polymer materials in clothing
Clothing is the oldest application of polymers in people's lives. As early as thousands of years ago, clothing was made using animal hair for warmth, and animal hair is currently what we refer to as fibre polymer material.
With the continued development of polymer research and development technology, people are now reducing the natural polymer cotton, wool, hemp, and so forth from nature as the production of clothing materials, the more synthetic means of natural materials are used for processing and manufacturing, for example, most clothing worn by people is made from synthetic means of manufactured fibre, as small as the stockings we wear, as large as the winter coats we wear, and so on, are inseparable from the polymer materials. Moreover, some of the attachments on people's bodies are also inseparable from the polymer materials, such as artificial leather and plastic compound [5] shoes and belts; brooches, buttons, et al. are made from unsaturated polyester fibre in addition to artificial bead pigments.

Application of polymer materials in diet
Polymeric materials are widely used in the food industry. Firstly, we consume various types of food, such as vegetables, meats, and staple foods, which are essentially made up of polymers classified based on their molecular weight. Secondly, plastic takeaway boxes and bags are popular in the food industry because they are lightweight, non-toxic, and inexpensive, making them highly convenient for people's daily diets [6] . Mineral water and snack bags are also commonly produced from plastic. Overall, it is clear that polymer materials are closely intertwined with people's dietary habits, and as such, they have significant impact on our daily lives.

Application of polymer materials in transportation
With the advancement of the economy and technology, people have access to various means of transportation. The use of automobiles, planes, ships, trains, and other modes of transport has significantly improved everyday life, and polymer materials have played an integral role in this industry. For example, rubber is used to produce vehicle tires and various polymer resins are used for external paints. PVC plastic is used for flywheels and other polymer materials are used throughout transportation vehicles to enhance their efficiency [7] . This highlights how polymer materials are intertwined with the transportation industry and its ability to function effectively.

Application of polymer materials in medical care
Polymeric materials play a crucial role in the medical field. Medical gauze is an essential tool in medical treatment, as it helps to stop bleeding, has antiinflammatory effects, and isolates external microorganisms. Gauzes consist of fibres made of polymeric materials [8] . Engineered organs are also crucial for treating patients with defects or other medical complications, and such organs also rely on polymeric materials. Medical tools, devices, dressings, and other products are also made of polymer materials. These materials contribute to improving the medical environment and reducing patients' potential pain during treatment [9] . Overall, polymer materials play a vital role in the medical field, helping to enhance patient care and treating various medical conditions.

Other aspects
Polymer materials are an essential part of people's daily lives, appearing in various applications like clothing, food packaging, housing materials, and modes of transportation. They provide numerous benefits such as durability, flexibility, and light-weighting, that allow for unique design solutions and cost-effectiveness in many different industries. The widespread use of polymer materials highlights their importance in modern-day society. Additionally, they are used in the production of sports equipment, pavements, phones, computers, and other electronic devices-making it virtually impossible to go a day without interacting with polymer materials. The wide range of applications of polymer materials has brought exceptional convenience to people. Therefore, it is safe to say that polymer materials have become an essential part of human life in modern society.

Superiorities of polymer materials
Polymer materials have numerous crucial advantages over other materials. Firstly, polymer materials are tough and highly wear-resistant, making them ideal for producing items like automobile tires that operate for long periods without wearing down. Secondly, polymer materials demonstrate high levels of corrosion resistance and can withstand exposure to various harsh environments, unlike many other materials. Lastly, polymer materials are lightweight and come in a wide range of forms, making them versatile materials with widespread applicability across multiple fields [10] . Overall, the unique properties of polymer materials have made them indispensable in modern society. As shown in Table 2, it introduces that different polymer materials can exhibit different properties due to differences in their molecular weight.

Limitations of polymer materials
Although polymer materials have numerous advantages over other materials and have found wide use in daily life as well as high-end industries, some major shortcomings specific to China have emerged. The demand for polymer materials has risen significantly as their use has become more widespread, especially in high-end industries like aerospace and electronics technology. However, China's research on polymer materials is currently limited, particularly when it comes to research on high-end polymer materials. This has resulted in many companies being unable to import foreign materials, limiting research opportunities in the field and, in the long run, may hinder China's economic development. Moreover, polymer materials can have a significant environmental impact. They are corrosion-resistant, making them difficult to degrade, which means that the excessive use of polymer materials could contribute to environmental deterioration, in conflict with current trends in sustainable development. Overall, while polymer materials have significant advantages, addressing their negative environmental impact and expanding research into high-end polymer materials is critical to ensuring continued economic and societal development.
6 Prospects for future applications of polymer materials

Enhancement of function and performance
Polymer materials have become an indispensable part of people's daily lives. As society continues to develop, people's needs for polymer materials are becoming more diverse and demanding. The future trends in polymer materials development involve perfecting their functions and enhancing their performance to expand their potential application in more fields. With extensive ongoing research and development in polymer chemistry and physics, we can expect the emergence of more highperformance molecular materials that will significantly improve China's economic strength and scientific technological level. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the extensive potential of polymer materials will be fully realized to help meet the needs of an advanced and expanding society.

Composite polymer materials
While the performance of polymer materials is already impressive and meets many basic needs, the use and economics of polymer materials can be further improved through research and development in composite polymer materials. The trend towards enhancing composite polymer materials will make them widely applicable in various fields, including aerospace and aviation, marine bioengineering, and electronic technology [11] . Highstrength, high-performance, and excellent heat-resistant composite polymer materials will lead to further improvements in China's scientific and technological level, and their use will address multiple social development needs. In summary, ongoing research into polymer composite materials is a significant trend that promises to further unleash the potential of polymer materials in the future.

Intelligent and green
In line with the rapidly-evolving society, the significance of smart technology is becoming increasingly crucial. It is therefore essential that future polymer materials possess the ability to self-diagnose and self-care to minimize the need for manual intervention. This feature would significantly enhance the durability and reliability of polymer materials, enabling them to perform optimally in the dynamic environments of modern-day applications. This will open up new applications for polymer materials and make them suitable for use in high-profile industries. Furthermore, considering the growing emphasis on promoting harmonious humannature coexistence, it is imperative that future developments in polymer materials align with the trend of promoting environmental protection and sustainability. Hence, sustainable and eco-friendly development must be a significant focus in the future development of polymer materials. The advancement of science and technology should not come at the expense of environmental degradation, and it is crucial for polymer materials to adopt sustainable production practices for the benefit of society and the planet as a whole.
Currently, most polymer materials are not easily recycled, and degradability issues arise. In the future, we can expect a growing trend towards developing degradable polymer materials through regenerative degradation research [12] . Such advances in research will play an essential role in future social and economic development, and their potential value cannot be ignored. Ultimately, the development of smart, sustainable, and degradable polymer materials represents a crucial trend for the continued improvement and expansion of polymer materials, to better meet the needs of the contemporary world and ensure a harmonious humannature coexistence, as is related to Figure 2.

Summary & outlook
Polymeric materials have become increasingly vital in modern-day living, bringing convenience and enhancing people's quality of life. These materials have contributed to economic development and advancements in science and technology in various countries. They possess unique properties that allow them to serve as a fundamental component in many different applications, ranging from consumer goods to high-tech industries. Therefore, it is essential to note the significant role that polymer materials play in society, from facilitating daily tasks to fuelling economic growth and scientific advancements. However, we cannot ignore the limitations of polymer materials. There is still a significant gap between the level of research in polymer materials in China and that in other countries. Moreover, research into polymer materials inevitably leads to pressure on natural resources and environmental protection. Therefore, more research and development of high-performance polymer materials is needed.
We believe that with the continual improvement of China's national power, future polymer materials will be more intelligent, green, high-performance, and composite. This development will resolve the current issues and provide people with more practical applications. As researchers and developers in this field, we will continue to foster the study of materials and the physics of polymers. This will extend research ideas, improve R&D technology, and provide technical guidance for a more comprehensive development of polymer materials.
In the near future, the potential for the development of polymer materials is enormous. Polymer materials will not only meet people's everyday needs but also provide supportive support to a variety of industries and promote the healthy development of each industry.
Overall, we believe that polymer materials hold great promise for helping people live better, more efficient, and sustainable lives.