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Related Concept Videos

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,...
Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects01:17

Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects

In an NMR sample, precise measurement of the absolute absorption frequencies of nuclei is difficult. A standard internal reference compound is added, and the frequency difference between the reference signal and sample signals is measured.
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II01:27

Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II

Polymer samples typically consist of macromolecular chains with a distribution of lengths, resulting in a range of molar masses rather than a single discrete value. Conventional descriptors such as the number-average molar mass and weight-average molar mass quantify this distribution but do not fully capture polymer behavior in solution..The viscosity-average molar mass provides a more realistic description of polymer behavior in solution because it accounts for the enhanced contribution of...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

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

Published on: September 26, 2016

Single polymer chains in poor solvent: using the bond fluctuation method with explicit solvent.

Christoph Jentzsch1, Marco Werner, Jens-Uwe Sommer

  • 1Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany. jentzsch-christoph@ipfdd.de

The Journal of Chemical Physics
|March 15, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores polymer chain behavior in poor solvents using an explicit solvent model. Dynamics remain active even in very poor solvents, and chain stretching transitions are smooth due to fluctuations.

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Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy
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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

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

Published on: September 26, 2016

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)
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Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

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Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy
10:37

Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy

Published on: March 16, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Physics
  • Computational Chemistry
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Understanding polymer behavior in poor solvents is crucial for materials science.
  • Simulations are key to exploring polymer dynamics and conformations.
  • Explicit solvent models offer a more realistic depiction of polymer-environment interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the static and dynamic properties of single polymer chains under poor solvent conditions using an explicit solvent model.
  • To compare simulation results with an implicit solvent model and determine Theta-temperatures.
  • To analyze the structure and force-extension curves of collapsed polymer globules.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing the bond fluctuation model with explicit solvent.
  • Comparing explicit and implicit solvent models.
  • Analyzing static and dynamic properties, including force-extension curves.

Main Results:

  • Explicit solvent models prevent dynamics from freezing even in very poor solvents.
  • Large chain lengths are required to achieve the scaling regime of a dense sphere.
  • The transition from a collapsed tadpole conformation to a stretched chain is smooth due to fluctuations.

Conclusions:

  • Explicit solvent models provide a more accurate representation of polymer dynamics in poor solvents.
  • Fluctuation effects significantly influence the conformational transitions of polymer chains.
  • Simulation findings align with recent experimental observations on polymer behavior.