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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...

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael acceptor.

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

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...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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,...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

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

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

Published on: January 26, 2016

Glassy dynamics in condensed isolated polymer chains.

Martin Tress¹, Emmanuel U Mapesa, Wilhelm Kossack

¹Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 21, 2013

Summary

Researchers studied polymer chain dynamics using nanostructured capacitors. They found material properties remain largely bulk-like even at the nanoscale, with minimal changes near surfaces.

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

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

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

Published on: September 26, 2016

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Physics
Nanotechnology

Background:

Miniaturization of materials to the nanometer scale raises questions about how material properties change.
Understanding the dynamics of isolated polymer chains is crucial for nanoscale material applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dynamics of condensed isolated polymer chains at the nanoscale.
To determine how material properties are affected by confinement in nanostructured environments.

Main Methods:

Utilized broadband dielectric spectroscopy.
Employed a capacitor with nanostructured electrodes separated by 35 nanometers.
Measured the dynamic glass transition of poly(2-vinylpyridine).

Main Results:

The dynamic glass transition of poly(2-vinylpyridine) was found to be predominantly bulk-like.
Only polymer segments within 0.5 nanometers of the substrate exhibited a slight slowing of dynamics.
Demonstrated a method for studying isolated molecular dynamics.

Conclusions:

Material properties of polymer chains remain largely consistent with bulk behavior even at the nanoscale.
Surface interactions have a limited, localized effect on polymer chain dynamics.
The developed approach enables further research into the dynamics of single molecules.