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Polymers

Polymers

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...

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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...

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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...

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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.

Polymer Classification: Architecture

Polymer Classification: Architecture

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...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

Natural Polymers-Based Materials: A Contribution to a Greener Future.

Ana C Q Silva¹, Armando J D Silvestre¹, Carla Vilela¹

¹Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

|January 11, 2022

Summary

This review explores sustainable biobased materials from natural polymers like polysaccharides and proteins. These materials offer eco-friendly solutions for packaging, biomedicine, and electronics.

Keywords:

composites and hybrid materials films and membranes green chemistry microneedles nanosystems natural polymers patches polysaccharides proteins sustainability

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Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Science
Green Chemistry

Background:

Natural polymers are key for sustainable material development.
Renewable feedstocks align with Green Chemistry and the 2030 Agenda.
Research focuses on exploiting natural polymers for advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

Highlight research on sustainable biobased materials from natural polymers.
Showcase work by the BioPol4fun research team at CICECO-Aveiro.
Demonstrate the versatility of natural polymers in material applications.

Main Methods:

Review of research on polysaccharides (cellulose, chitosan, etc.) and proteins (lysozyme, gelatin).
Focus on environmentally friendly strategies for material assembly.
Exploration of composite, coating, film, membrane, and nanosystem fabrication.

Main Results:

Demonstrated successful development of diverse biobased materials.
Utilized various natural polymers including polysaccharides and proteins.
Achieved applications in packaging, biomedicine, energy storage, and electronics.

Conclusions:

Natural polymers are versatile and sustainable resources for advanced materials.
Environmentally friendly strategies enable the creation of functional biobased materials.
The research contributes to sustainable development goals through innovative material solutions.