Acetylene, obtained from coal, was originally the source of raw material for polymer production. Today, most raw materials for polymer manufacture are obtained from the cracking of naphtha in oil refineries. The current leading area in high-volume polymer usage and development is still the auto industry. Computers and software have become important for design and testing due to the myriad of polymer varieties. Soft, pliable polymers such as rubber and neoprene.
Polymer blends can also include additives, reinforcements, and fillers.
All mers along a polymer chain are of the same type. Mers along a polymer chain are of two or more types.