Page 20 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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1.3. Design of New Materials Through a “Critical Thinking” Approach

Figure 1.4. Illustrations for the “top-down” and “bottom-up” approach to materials synthesis. (a) The
top-down route is often used to transform naturally occurring products into useful materials.
Representations shown above include the conversion of wood into paper products, as well as certain
golf ball covers. [4] (b) The bottom-up route of materials synthesis is most prevalent. The representation
shown above is the fabrication of plastics and vinyl found in common household products and automotive
interiors, through polymerization processes starting from simple monomeric compounds (see Chapter 5).