Polymer Polymers are a type of synthetic macromolecule , in contrast with natural macromolecules such as protein s and polynucleotides . They are characterized by a large molecular weight and consist of repeating structural units , termed monomers , connected by chemical bonds . In general , their properties differ markedly from the corresponding monomers which they consist of . These properties may result in strong and / or durable material s that have many applications . In the 24th century there are several different words used to describe such large molecules : biopolymer , tri - polymer and polymer . Although they all have the same basic characteristics , they are created differently and for different reasons . Polymers were , among other things , used to make plexiglass in the 20th century on Earth . To withstand a pressure of 18 , 000 cubic feet of water , a piece of plexiglass at 60 by 10 feet needed to be six inches thick . To hold the same amount of water , only a thickness of one inch was needed with a piece of transparent aluminum . Montgomery Scott explained how to make this to Doctor Nichols of the Plexicorp cooperation . ( ) Polymer composites were used in the 21st century to construct spacecraft on Earth . " Ares IV " was made out of such a composite . ( ) Polymer matrices could also be used to make alloy s . The Sky Spirit s used polymers to create their dwellings . ( ) Silica polymers exist . A strange object being constructed in the cargo bay was made out of silica polymers . ( ) A sub - polymer scan can be performed . ( ) A biopolymer is an organic form of polymer . The 247th element known to the Federation was present in a polymer residue as a byproduct of the decomposition process after a Vhnori died . ( ) Tri - polymers can be used to create tripolymer plasma . This plasma would have less energy than plasma from a Federation warp engine . The Pralor and Cravic used it in their chromodynamic power module s , which in turn powered the Automated Personnel Unit s . ( ) Enzymes could be made out of tripolymer . A Delta Quadrant merchant named Bathar of Hodos once sold a so - called anti - aging process formula to Neelix which used tripolymer enzymes . It turned out the formula was better suited to make shoe polish . ( ) 24th century Starfleet uniform s were created from synthetic polymers . The molecular structure of a polymer could be used to determine if it was made via replicator . ( ) Data ' s artificial body frame had approximately six kilogram s of non - conductive tripolymer composites . It was capable of withstanding at least half a million amp s , although this was no guarantee that Data would survive such a massive current . Fortunately , his safeguards protected him when he tried to disrupt a high energy arc using his body . ( ) Even Human blood could be turned into a liquid polymer . Edward Hagler died when aliens from a different dimension performed medical experiments on him . ( ) Geordi La Forge compared replicated pasta al Fiorella with a liquid polymer after receiving a plate from the replimat on Deep Space 9 . Although Worf ate his and found it delicious , La Forge thought the replicator was malfunctioning . ( )