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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

40.6K
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...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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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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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.
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...
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Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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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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Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

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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...
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Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots
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Bioinspired Actuators Based on Stimuli-Responsive Polymers.

Huanqing Cui1, Qilong Zhao1, Yunlong Wang1

  • 1Institute of Biomedical & Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen, China.

Chemistry, an Asian Journal
|March 30, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists are developing bioinspired artificial actuators using stimuli-responsive polymers. These materials mimic nature's adaptability, enabling dynamic shape changes for sophisticated robotic applications and motion generation.

Keywords:
artificial actuatorsbioinspired materialsmolecular devicespolymersstimuli-responsive materials

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Robotics
  • Biomimetics

Background:

  • Organisms adapt to environments through morphology changes and locomotion, inspiring artificial actuators.
  • Stimuli-responsive polymers offer flexibility and dynamic property changes under external triggers like temperature, pH, light, and ionic strength.
  • Existing artificial actuators are inspired by biological systems for shape-morphing and motion generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively introduce mechanisms, working principles, and applications of stimuli-responsive polymeric actuators.
  • To highlight the advantages of stimuli-responsive polymers in fabricating bioinspired artificial actuators.
  • To provide perspectives on current challenges and future research directions in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing literature on stimuli-responsive polymers for actuators.
  • Analysis of working principles including asymmetric friction, Marangoni effect, and counteracting forces.
  • Categorization of applications based on material properties and external stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Stimuli-responsive polymers enable actuators with diverse and sophisticated shape-morphing capabilities.
  • These polymers facilitate the transfer of dynamic, reversible shape deformations into macroscopic motion.
  • A wide range of applications are enabled by tailoring polymer responses to specific external stimuli.

Conclusions:

  • Stimuli-responsive polymers are key materials for advanced bioinspired artificial actuators.
  • Further research is needed to overcome current challenges and unlock future potential in actuator design.
  • The field holds promise for developing novel robotic systems with enhanced adaptability and functionality.