Y. Jasmala Joy(Lecturer), St. John the Baptist University, Mangochi, Malawi.
A. Malar Retna (Assistant Professor), Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
Polymers are anexpansive class of materials which are made from units of smaller
molecules called monomers. Fossil fuels used in developing plastics account for about 7% of
worldwide oil and gas. The resources will be exhausted within the next few hundred years and
within the next few years the peak of global oil production will occur. Polymers from biomass
can not only solve the problem of petrochemical products but they also help in waste disposal.
Presently, the discarding of polymers derived from petrochemical sources and this is a major
concern particularly in popular countries. Therefore, there is a substantial demand for the
development of eco-friendly and biodegradable polymers. In fact,many of the polymers taken
from renewable resources can also be biodegradable under the suitablecircumstances. Cardanol
and its derivatives have immeasurableuses in polymer based industries such as friction linings,
varnishes, rubber compounding resins, paints, surfactants, laminating resins, polyurethane based
polymers and wood preservatives.