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

Polymers02:34

Polymers

40.9K
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...
40.9K
Polymers02:34

Polymers

23.3K
23.3K
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

3.8K
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...
3.8K
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

4.0K
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...
4.0K
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

3.2K
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...
3.2K
Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

3.8K
Unlike small molecules with definite molecular weights, polymers are a mixture of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, each with a unique molecular weight.  So, the molecular weight of a polymer is expressed as an average value based on the average size of the polymer chains. The two most common forms of averages used for polymers are the number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight.
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
3.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Understanding Polysiloxane Polymer to Amorphous SiOC Conversion During Pyrolysis Through ReaxFF Simulation.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Twice-Functionalized Montmorillonite Nanosheets for Polymer-Derived MMT-SiOC Nanocomposites: Phase Formation and Porosity.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025
Same author

Photothermal self-healing of gold nanoparticle-polystyrene hybrids.

Nanoscale·2020
Same author

Patterning of ZnO Quantum Dot and PMMA Hybrids with a Solvent-Assisted Technique.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2019
Same author

Suspension-based imprint lithography of ZnO-PMMA hybrids.

Soft matter·2017
Same author

Experimental and Modeling Study of Solvent Diffusion in PDMS for Nanoparticle-Polymer Cosuspension Imprint Lithography.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2015

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
09:45

Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers

Published on: October 28, 2015

8.9K

Monte Carlo Simulation Modeling of Nanoparticle-Polymer Cosuspensions.

Michelle Gervasio1, Kathy Lu1

  • 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg , Virginia 24061 , United States.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 12, 2018
PubMed
Summary

This study used Monte Carlo simulations to understand how zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymers clump together in suspension. Increased particle concentration and polymer chain length worsen agglomeration, while drying stabilizes the suspension.

More Related Videos

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties
10:16

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties

Published on: January 8, 2016

14.3K
Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries
10:58

Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries

Published on: September 6, 2012

10.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
09:45

Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers

Published on: October 28, 2015

8.9K
Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties
10:16

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties

Published on: January 8, 2016

14.3K
Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries
10:58

Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries

Published on: September 6, 2012

10.8K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Computational Chemistry

Background:

  • Polymer-particle nanocomposites require understanding particle and polymer behavior in suspension.
  • Simulations are crucial for identifying parameters governing suspension behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the agglomeration processes of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer cosuspensions.
  • To analyze the impact of resting time, particle-to-polymer ratio, polymer chain length, and drying on agglomeration.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a constant number Monte Carlo simulation approach.
  • Employed a modified Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory to model particle-particle interactions.
  • Measured average agglomerate size and number under varying conditions.

Main Results:

  • Agglomerate size increased with suspension resting time and particle content, reaching 4.6 μm at 20 vol % particle content after 30 min.
  • Agglomeration intensified with increasing polymer chain length.
  • Agglomerate size distribution followed a lognormal pattern across all particle contents.

Conclusions:

  • Suspension resting time and particle concentration are key factors influencing ZnO-PMMA nanocomposite agglomeration.
  • Higher polymer chain length exacerbates particle agglomeration.
  • Drying enhances suspension stability due to increased viscosity and depletion stabilization, counteracting agglomeration.