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Related Concept Videos

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

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

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.1K
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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 13, 2025

Synthesis of PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Janus Microhydrogels for Anisotropic Thermo-responsiveness and Organophilic/Hydrophilic Loading Capability
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Synthesis of PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Janus Microhydrogels for Anisotropic Thermo-responsiveness and Organophilic/Hydrophilic Loading Capability

Published on: February 27, 2016

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Anisotropic Foams via Frontal Polymerization.

Diego M Alzate-Sanchez1,2, Morgan M Cencer1,2, Michael Rogalski3

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

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 11, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Frontal polymerization rapidly fabricates anisotropic foams by controlling cell morphology. This efficient method allows tailored material properties for diverse applications.

Keywords:
anisotropydicyclopentadienefoamsfrontal polymerizationring-opening metathesis polymerization

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Preparation of Hollow Polystyrene Particles and Microcapsules by Radical Polymerization of Janus Droplets Consisting of Hydrocarbon and Fluorocarbon Oils
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Casting Protocols for the Production of Open Cell Aluminum Foams by the Replication Technique and the Effect on Porosity
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Casting Protocols for the Production of Open Cell Aluminum Foams by the Replication Technique and the Effect on Porosity

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Preparation of Hollow Polystyrene Particles and Microcapsules by Radical Polymerization of Janus Droplets Consisting of Hydrocarbon and Fluorocarbon Oils
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Casting Protocols for the Production of Open Cell Aluminum Foams by the Replication Technique and the Effect on Porosity
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Casting Protocols for the Production of Open Cell Aluminum Foams by the Replication Technique and the Effect on Porosity

Published on: December 11, 2014

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Engineering

Background:

  • Foam properties critically depend on cell structure (volume fraction, openness, size, shape, orientation, interconnectedness).
  • Current methods like ice templating offer limited control over foam morphology and alignment.
  • There is a need for rapid, versatile, and energy-efficient foam fabrication techniques with controlled cellular order.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a fast and convenient method for fabricating anisotropic structural foams.
  • To demonstrate the use of frontal polymerization for controlled foam morphology.
  • To correlate fabrication parameters with foam structure and properties.

Main Methods:

  • Foams were fabricated using frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) of dicyclopentadiene and a blowing agent.
  • Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and image analysis were employed to quantify morphological characteristics.
  • A full factorial design of experiments correlated variables (blowing agent, concentration, resin viscosity) with foam structure.

Main Results:

  • Anisotropic structural foams were successfully produced using frontal polymerization.
  • Cellular structure, porosity, and hardness were found to vary with blowing agent, concentration, and resin viscosity.
  • The study established clear correlations between fabrication parameters and the resulting foam morphology.

Conclusions:

  • Frontal polymerization offers a simple, efficient, and versatile method for producing tailored anisotropic foams.
  • This technique allows for precise control over foam morphology, enabling the fabrication of materials with specific properties.
  • The findings pave the way for the development of advanced cellular materials with designed structures.