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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

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DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

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Published on: October 25, 2017

Conformational properties of compact polymers.

Manfred Bohn¹, Dieter W Heermann

¹Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 19, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. bohn@tphys.uni-heidelberg.de

The Journal of Chemical Physics

|May 12, 2009

Summary

Monte Carlo simulations reveal universal scaling laws for compact polymer conformations. These findings challenge classical polymer theories when applied to biological systems like chromatin folding.

Area of Science:

Computational physics
Polymer science
Biophysics

Background:

Monte Carlo simulations are vital for understanding polymer properties in physical and biological systems.
Previous studies on compact polymers were limited by system size.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore compact polymer conformations on a lattice using an improved algorithm.
To investigate conformational properties and propose new scaling laws for large polymer systems.

Main Methods:

Utilized Monte Carlo simulations on a cubic lattice with varying occupancy fractions.
Employed a modified algorithm to simulate system sizes up to 256,000 monomers.
Analyzed segment correlations, excluded volume screening, and end-to-end distance distributions.

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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

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Published on: September 26, 2016

Main Results:

Developed a universal scaling law for the end-to-end distance distribution, independent of system density.
Observed universality across different occupancy fractions.
Characterized intrachain segment distance distributions, relevant for biological applications.

Conclusions:

The proposed scaling law offers new insights into compact polymer behavior.
Classical compact polymer theory inadequately explains experimental data for chromatin folding in interphase nuclei.
Further research is needed to reconcile polymer physics with complex biological structures.