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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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Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

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Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta...
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Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

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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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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

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The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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Molecular Shapes01:18

Molecular Shapes

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Molecules have characteristic shapes that are crucial for their function. The arrangement of various electron groups around the central atom dictates their molecular geometry. Electron pairs in the valence shell of a central atom will adopt an arrangement that minimizes repulsions between the electron pairs by maximizing the distance between them. The valence electrons form either bonding pairs, located primarily between bonded atoms, or lone pairs.
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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Molecular Entanglement and Electrospinnability of Biopolymers
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Molecular weaving.

Zhi-Hui Zhang1, Björn J Andreassen2, David P August2

  • 1School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.

Nature Materials
|February 4, 2022
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Summary

Molecular weaving, the bottom-up assembly of organic polymers into intricate woven structures, is now an achievable reality. This field offers new research avenues in polymer science and molecular nanotopology.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Molecular Nanotopology
  • Materials Chemistry

Background:

  • Molecular-level interlacing historically limited to coordination polymers and DNA.
  • Direct, bottom-up assembly of woven organic polymers remained a long-standing challenge.
  • Recent advancements enable nanoscale weaving of polymer chains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Provide an overview of periodic nanoscale weaving of polymer chains.
  • Distinguish molecular weaving from random polymer networks and crystalline frameworks.
  • Explore opportunities and research directions in this emerging field.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical context and experimental progress in molecular weaving.
  • Analysis of features and potential of periodic nanoscale polymer chain weaving.
  • Distinction from non-woven polymer networks and crystalline structures.

Main Results:

  • Demonstration of successful 2D and 3D molecular-level weaving.
  • Establishment of molecular weaving as a distinct structural paradigm.
  • Identification of new research opportunities at the polymer science and nanotopology interface.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular weaving presents a promising new frontier in polymer science.
  • Potential applications in advanced materials and nanotechnology.
  • Current challenges and future directions for the field outlined.