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Related Concept Videos

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.4K
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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Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

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For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
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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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Polymers02:34

Polymers

37.9K
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...
37.9K
Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

3.3K
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...
3.3K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.8K
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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 6, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

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Polymers critical point originates Brownian non-Gaussian diffusion.

Sankaran Nampoothiri1, Enzo Orlandini1, Flavio Seno1

  • 1Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei"-DFA, Sezione INFN, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova (PD), Italy.

Physical Review. E
|January 15, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Size fluctuations near a polymer

Area of Science:

  • Polymer physics
  • Statistical mechanics
  • Soft matter science

Background:

  • Polymers exhibit complex behavior near their critical points.
  • Understanding polymer dynamics is crucial for materials science.
  • Non-Gaussian diffusion deviates from standard Brownian motion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the origin of non-Gaussian diffusion in polymer systems.
  • To link static properties to dynamic responses near critical points.
  • To explore the role of polymer topology and dimensionality.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of polymer size fluctuations.
  • Investigation of static universal exponents (γ and ν).
  • Connecting equilibrium phase properties to dynamic behavior.

More Related Videos

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels
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Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels

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Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
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Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 6, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

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Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels
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Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels

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Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
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Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

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Main Results:

  • Polymer size fluctuations near the critical point drive non-Gaussian diffusion.
  • Static exponents (γ, ν) dictate the divergence of dynamic responses.
  • Center-of-mass kurtosis quantifies this dynamic response.

Conclusions:

  • Size fluctuations are the primary cause of non-Gaussian diffusion for polymers.
  • Static universal exponents are key predictors of dynamic behavior.
  • This work opens avenues for experimental and modeling studies.