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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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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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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...
2.6K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.4K
The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
2.4K
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...
2.1K
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.3K
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...
2.3K

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Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
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Physics of Directional Polymer Crystallization.

Christopher J Durning1, Ahana Purushothaman2, Sabin Adhikari1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States.

ACS Macro Letters
|August 25, 2022
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nonisothermal polymer crystallization driven by a moving sink is analogous to isothermal crystallization. This is due to polymers' poor thermal conductivity, allowing scale separation for an equivalent step, though crystallization kinetics differ.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Nonisothermal directional crystallization of polymers is often modeled as an equivalent isothermal process.
  • Understanding the physics of polymer crystallization under varying thermal conditions is crucial for material processing and property control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the validity of the analogy between nonisothermal directional polymer crystallization and equivalent isothermal crystallization protocols.
  • To explore the physical basis for scale separation in polymer crystallization driven by a moving sink.
  • To identify key differences in crystallization kinetics between the two protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of nonisothermal crystallization driven by a moving sink.
  • Comparison of spatial and thermal scales during polymer crystallization.
  • Mathematical modeling to derive an equivalent isothermal crystallization temperature.
  • Analysis of crystallization kinetics, including the Avrami exponent.

Main Results:

  • A substantial analogy exists between nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization protocols due to scale separation.
  • Polymer crystallization occurs in a narrow spatial regime, while thermal gradients span a broader scale.
  • The equivalent isothermal crystallization temperature scales linearly with the sink velocity.
  • Key kinetic parameters, such as the Avrami exponent, differ significantly between the two protocols.

Conclusions:

  • The scale separation in polymers allows for a simplified equivalent isothermal step for nonisothermal directional crystallization.
  • While the overall process can be analogous, specific kinetic metrics like the Avrami exponent highlight fundamental differences.
  • These findings offer new physical insights into spatially varying crystallization protocols and suggest avenues for experimental validation.