Chan,+Amanda

Polymers in the Field

Something I found interesting about the article “Polymers in the Field” was that natural athletic fields have natural microbes that fight off diseases and bacteria. However, the artificial turf do not have these natural guards against disease, and it could even breed more dangerous bacteria than a normal turf due to its tendency to have high temperatures. I learned that the rubber used in the athletic field is “virgin,” meaning that it was not ripped up from old tires. This is bad for the environment, and it likely caused the bill to be very high for Central York high school. Something that I think is pertinent to our class is that there are different types of rubber in our everyday settings, such as gum and rubber bands. Gum does not have its own shape because it is not vulcanized. Rubber bands are vulcanized, thus having a specific shape.

Amanda, Looks good! I like the fact that you picked up on the vulcanization concept. 5 stars. MW