Classification of polymers on the basis of source or origin

Based on where they come from, polymers fall into three categories. Natural polymers are obtained directly from a natural source and are further split into plant polymers (e.g. cotton and linen from the cotton plant and flax plant respectively, and natural rubber manufactured from the latex found in the bark of rubber trees) and animal polymers (e.g. wool from sheep's hair, silk from the silkworm). Synthetic polymers are entirely man-made, artificially prepared either by polymerizing one monomer or by copolymerizing two or more different monomers together; nylon, terylene and neoprene are all synthetic polymers, and this class is further split into three subtypes -- fibres, synthetic rubbers, and plastics. Semisynthetic polymers sit in between: they are chemically derived from a natural polymer and are also called regenerated fibres. Cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate rayon, cellulose nitrate, vi …