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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...

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The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

Electrically driven alignment and crystallization of unique anisotropic polymer particles.

Kevin P Herlihy¹, Janine Nunes, Joseph M Desimone

¹Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|July 24, 2008

Summary

Researchers explored how electric fields affect polymer particle shapes, finding significant changes in particle chaining and orientation. This study details the behavior of disk, rod, hexnut, and boomerang particles under electric fields.

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Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

Published on: June 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Materials Science
Soft Matter Physics

Background:

Anisotropic polymer particles offer unique properties for advanced materials.
Controlling particle assembly is crucial for fabricating functional materials.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the behavior of various anisotropic polymer particle shapes in aqueous suspensions under alternating electric fields.
To understand how electric fields influence particle chaining, packing, and orientation.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of micrometer-sized, monodisperse anisotropic polymer particles (disk, rod, hexnut, boomerang) using the particle replication in nonwetting templates (PRINT) process.
Application of alternating electric fields (20-50 V ac, 0.5-5.0 kHz) across coplanar electrodes with 1-2 mm gaps.
Monitoring particle behavior in aqueous suspensions using fluorescence microscopy.

Main Results:

Alternating electric fields induced significant changes in particle packing and orientation for all tested shapes.
Disk, rod, and hexnut particles exhibited extensive chaining and altered packing.
Boomerang particles showed limited chaining but transitioned from random to ordered packing arrangements.

Conclusions:

Electric field manipulation is an effective method for controlling the assembly and orientation of anisotropic polymer particles.
Particle shape significantly influences the response to electric fields, affecting chaining and packing behavior.
The PRINT process enables the synthesis of diverse anisotropic particles for studying electric-field-induced assembly.