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Related Concept Videos

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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...
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Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

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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...
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Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

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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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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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,...
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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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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...
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Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
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Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
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Polymers with autonomous life-cycle control.

Jason F Patrick1, Maxwell J Robb1,2, Nancy R Sottos1,3

  • 1Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.

Nature
|December 16, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Smart materials can mimic living systems to autonomously repair damage, extending the lifespan and sustainability of manufactured items. Developing these self-healing polymers for real-world applications remains a significant challenge.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Biomimicry

Background:

  • Man-made materials degrade due to daily use, environmental factors, and damage, leading to reduced lifespan and disposal.
  • Living organisms possess remarkable abilities to self-protect, self-report damage, and self-heal or regenerate.
  • Mimicking these biological self-healing capabilities in synthetic materials offers a path to enhanced durability and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of smart materials in extending the functional lifetime of manufactured goods.
  • To investigate approaches for developing self-healing and self-reporting polymer-based materials.
  • To address the challenges in implementing these smart material functionalities in real-world, variable conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Reviewing current strategies for creating self-healing and self-reporting polymer systems.
  • Analyzing the mechanisms by which living systems achieve autonomous repair and regeneration.
  • Identifying limitations and challenges in translating laboratory findings to practical applications.

Main Results:

  • Smart materials offer a promising avenue for autonomous damage response, mirroring biological systems.
  • Polymer-based approaches are being developed for self-healing, self-reporting, and regenerative functions.
  • Significant hurdles exist in ensuring the robustness and reliability of these smart materials in diverse, unpredictable environments.

Conclusions:

  • Smart materials hold the potential to revolutionize material longevity, safety, and sustainability.
  • Further research is crucial to overcome the practical challenges of real-world implementation.
  • Bridging the gap between biomimetic design and functional material performance is key for future advancements.