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Related Concept Videos

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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Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers01:00

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers

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Polymers that are made up of identical monomer units are called homopolymers. Only one repeating unit is involved in the construction of the homopolymer structure. For example, as depicted in Figure 1, polypropylene is a homopolymer constituted of propylene monomers. Here, the only repeating unit in the polymer chain is propylene.
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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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Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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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...
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Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application
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Microstructure characterization and mechanistic insight into polyether polyols and their associated polyurethanes.

Anthony P Gies1, David M Hercules2, Arjun Raghuraman3

  • 1Core R&D, The Dow Chemical Company, Lake Jackson, Texas, USA.

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|August 3, 2023
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Mass spectrometry rapidly characterizes alkoxylates and copolymers for industrial R&D. This enables efficient development of new catalysts and polyether polyol mixtures for advanced materials.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Polymer Science
  • Organic Chemistry

Background:

  • Alkoxylates and copolymers are crucial in various industries.
  • Efficient characterization methods are needed for process optimization.
  • Current analytical techniques can be time-consuming for complex mixtures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review analytical tools for alkoxylate and copolymer characterization.
  • To emphasize mass spectrometry for rapid industrial R&D.
  • To demonstrate a new catalyst-based alkoxylation process.

Main Methods:

  • Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and tandem MS for component analysis.
  • Development of a tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (FAB) catalyst-based alkoxylation process.
  • Two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), and ion mobility separations coupled with MS.

Main Results:

  • MALDI-MS and tandem MS effectively analyzed model polyurethane foam components.
  • A novel FAB catalyst enabled efficient alkoxylation for next-generation copolymers.
  • Advanced separation techniques coupled with MS demonstrated high efficiency in characterizing complex polyether polyols.

Conclusions:

  • Mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for rapid characterization and process optimization in alkoxylate and copolymer synthesis.
  • The developed FAB catalyst and alkoxylation process offer enhanced efficiency.
  • Multi-dimensional separation techniques coupled with MS provide comprehensive analysis of complex polyether polyol mixtures.