Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

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...
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...
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Observational Assessments of Chicken, Beef, and Seafood Proportions with a Mediterranean-Style Healthy Dietary Pattern and Cardiovascular Risk Factor Changes: Post Hoc Analysis of a Controlled Feeding Trial.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Design and Recruitment for the Comparative Effectiveness of Zolpidem/Trazodone and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (COZI) Study in Rural Adults.

Behavioral sleep medicine·2026
Same author

Rational hydrogel design to improve brain modulus matching for implantation.

Materials letters·2026
Same author

Serum protein alterations characterize feline chronic gingivostomatitis: a case-control study of electrophoresis, immunoglobulin, and cytokine profiles.

American journal of veterinary research·2026
Same author

Solid-State Ion-Conducting Multiblock Terpolymers.

Macromolecules·2026
Same author

Fast and sensitive detection of targeted gene fusions using frequency minimizers and fuzzy pattern matching with Fuzzion2.

Cell reports methods·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films
09:32

Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films

Published on: January 26, 2016

Water clustering in glassy polymers.

Eric M Davis1, Yossef A Elabd

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Drexel University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|August 22, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Water solubility and clustering in glassy polymers like PMMA and PS were measured. Traditional theories like Flory-Huggins failed due to nonequilibrium polymer states, suggesting new models are needed.

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Glassy polymers exhibit complex water interactions.
  • Understanding water solubility and clustering is crucial for polymer applications.
  • Existing thermodynamic models often fail to accurately predict behavior in nonequilibrium systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify water solubility and clustering in glassy polymers (PMMA, PS, PVP).
  • To evaluate the applicability of Flory-Huggins theory and Zimm-Lundberg analysis.
  • To explore correlations between water clustering and polymer diffusion.

Main Methods:

  • Quartz spring microbalance (QSM) for water solubility measurement.
  • Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy for molecular-level water clustering.

More Related Videos

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
10:56

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Microgels
11:34

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Microgels

Published on: September 8, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films
09:32

Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films

Published on: January 26, 2016

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
10:56

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Microgels
11:34

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Microgels

Published on: September 8, 2016

  • Application of Flory-Huggins theory and Zimm-Lundberg clustering analysis.
  • Comparison with temperature-dependent diffusivity data.

    • Main Results:

    • QSM and FTIR-ATR provided distinct measurements of water solubility and clustering.
    • Flory-Huggins theory failed to predict water solubility in PMMA and PVP.
    • Zimm-Lundberg analysis yielded results contradictory to direct FTIR-ATR measurements.
    • A correlation was observed between water clustering and the activation energy for diffusion.

    Conclusions:

    • Standard thermodynamic models (Flory-Huggins, Zimm-Lundberg) are inadequate for glassy polymers due to their nonequilibrium nature.
    • FTIR-ATR spectroscopy offers a direct, reliable method for assessing water clustering.
    • Water clustering is linked to polymer dynamics, specifically diffusion characteristics.