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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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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.
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Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

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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...
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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.
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Bending of Members Made of Several Materials01:11

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In analyzing a structural member composed of two different materials with identical cross-sectional areas, it is crucial to understand how their distinct elastic properties affect the member's response under load. The analysis involves assessing stress and strain distributions using the transformed section concept, which accounts for variations in material properties.
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Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

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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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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.
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Correlation of structure and mechanical response in solid-like polymers.

Sara Jabbari-Farouji1, Joerg Rottler, Olivier Lame

  • 1Université Grenoble Alpes, UJF Liphy, F38041 Grenoble, France.

Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal
|April 30, 2015
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Large-scale simulations reveal how amorphous and semicrystalline polymers deform under tension. Semicrystalline polymers show distinct strain-softening and strain-hardening mechanisms driven by crystalline domain deformation and chain alignment.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Computational Chemistry

Background:

  • Understanding polymer deformation is crucial for material design.
  • Amorphous and semicrystalline polymers exhibit distinct mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the uniaxial tensile response of amorphous and semicrystalline polymer states.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of plastic deformation in polymers using molecular dynamics simulations.

Main Methods:

  • Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained PVA bead-spring model.
  • Analysis of conformational and structural changes during tensile deformation.
  • Characterization of crystalline domain volume distribution.

Main Results:

  • Identified strain-softening and strain-hardening regimes beyond the elastic limit.
  • Strain-softening in semicrystalline polymers is linked to crystalline part deformation.
  • Strain-hardening involves chain unfolding and alignment in both amorphous and crystalline regions.

Conclusions:

  • Polymer chain conformations become similar in both amorphous and semicrystalline states during strain-hardening.
  • The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms governing polymer plasticity.