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Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

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.

Polymers

Polymers

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...

Analyte Adsorption and Distribution

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In certain chromatographic separations, solutes transfer between the mobile phase and the stationary phase via sorption, which typically refers to the process of adsorption. For many chromatographic systems, the sorption process often depends on the polarity of the compounds—an expression of the overall dipole moment within the molecule. During the separation process, there is competition between the solute and solvent for adsorption to the stationary phase. Highly polar compounds and...

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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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...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy

Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy

Published on: March 16, 2020

Structure of Strongly Adsorbed Polymer Systems: A Computer Simulation Study.

Patrycja Olczyk¹, Andrzej Sikorski²

¹Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|September 9, 2023

Summary

Computer simulations reveal how polymer films form. At low temperatures, increased polymer concentration leads to larger chain sizes due to inter-chain interactions, a key finding for polymer structure research.

Keywords:

Monte Carlo method lattice model polymer collapse polymer film polymer melt

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Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Computational Chemistry
Materials Science

Background:

Understanding the structure of thin polymer films is crucial for materials science.
Macromolecular adsorption influences film properties.
Computer simulations offer a powerful tool to study complex polymer systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the macromolecular structure of two-dimensional polymer films.
To explore the effects of temperature, chain length, and concentration on film structure.
To elucidate the role of inter-chain interactions in polymer film formation.

Main Methods:

Development of a coarse-grained model for two-dimensional polymer systems.
Application of an efficient Monte Carlo simulation algorithm.
Utilizing a sampling algorithm combining Verdier-Stockmayer, pivot, and reputation moves.

Main Results:

Chain size increases with concentration at low temperatures.
Higher temperatures lead to smaller chain sizes, inversely related to concentration.
Inter-chain interactions significantly influence the observed macromolecular structure.

Conclusions:

The study provides insights into the self-assembly of polymer films.
Temperature and concentration are critical factors controlling polymer chain conformation.
Inter-chain forces play a dominant role in determining the structure of adsorbed polymer films.