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Related Concept Videos

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers01:28

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

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...
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Polymers02:34

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture
10:53

Shape Memory Polymers for Active Cell Culture

Published on: July 4, 2011

Shape-memory polymers.

Andreas Lendlein1, Steffen Kelch

  • 1Institut für Chemie, GKSS Forschungszentrum, Teltow, Germany. lendlein@gkss.de

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|September 15, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Shape-memory polymers offer superior properties and cost-effectiveness compared to metal alloys. These intelligent materials can self-repair and enable innovative applications across various industries.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Smart Materials

Background:

  • Growing interest in self-repairing and intelligent materials.
  • Emergence of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) surpassing metallic shape-memory alloys.
  • SMPs offer a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional shape-memory alloys.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the advantages of shape-memory polymers.
  • To explore the potential applications of intelligent polymers.
  • To discuss the mechanism behind shape-memory effects in polymers.

Main Methods:

  • Discussing the properties and manufacturing of SMPs.
  • Explaining the shape-memory mechanism triggered by a transition temperature.
  • Reviewing the broad application spectrum of intelligent polymers.

Main Results:

  • Shape-memory polymers exhibit superior shape-memory properties compared to metallic alloys.
  • SMPs are easily manufactured and programmed, offering a cost-effective solution.
  • Heating SMPs above a transition temperature allows them to recover from deformation.

Conclusions:

  • Shape-memory polymers are a promising class of materials with significant advantages.
  • Their unique properties enable a wide range of applications, from medical devices to automotive components.
  • Intelligent polymers are poised to play a crucial role in future technological advancements.