Soft materials:Polymers and Plastics Polymers are substances containing a large number of structural units joined by the same type of linkage. These substances often form into a chain-like structure Polymers already have a range of applications that far exceeds that of any other class of material available to human being. tp://matse1.matse.illinois.edu/polymers/ware.htmlSoft materials: Polymers and Plastics Polymers are substances containing a large number of structural units joined by the same type of linkage. These substances often form into a chain-like structure. Polymers already have a range of applications that far exceeds that of any other class of material available to human being. http://matse1.matse.illinois.edu/polymers/ware.html