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Related Concept Videos

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: 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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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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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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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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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: 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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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Densely Packed Multicyclic Polymers.

Mikhail Gavrilov1, Faheem Amir1, Jakov Kulis1

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Highly dense polymer chains achieve significant compactness by coupling cyclic units. This unique architecture enhances solubility and stability, mimicking natural biological structures.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cyclic polymer architectures offer unique conformational properties.
  • Understanding polymer chain density and solubility is crucial for materials design.
  • Natural systems utilize cyclic structures for stability and compaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of coupling cyclic polymeric units on polymer chain compactness.
  • To explore the solubility and conformational behavior of these novel polymer structures.
  • To draw parallels between synthetic cyclic polymers and biological macromolecules.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of polymers by sequentially coupling cyclic polymeric units.
  • Solvent-phase characterization of polymer compactness as a function of unit number.
  • Comparison of cyclic polymer behavior to linear polymer chains in various solvents.

Main Results:

  • Increased number of cyclic units led to substantial increases in polymer chain compactness.
  • A limiting compactness value was reached after approximately 12 units.
  • The compact structures remained soluble in good solvents, similar to linear chains in θ solvents.

Conclusions:

  • The unique architecture of cyclic polymers significantly alters chain conformation and enhances solubility.
  • This approach circumvents the need for cross-linking to achieve high density.
  • The findings provide insights into the role of cyclic structures in protein stability and DNA compaction.