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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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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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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

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...
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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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Problem Solving on Stress and Strain01:22

Problem Solving on Stress and Strain

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Stress is a quantity that describes the magnitude of a force that causes deformation, generally defined as internal force per unit area. When forces pull on an object and cause its elongation, like the stretching of an elastic band, it is called tensile stress. When forces cause the compression of an object, it is known as compressive stress. When an object is being squeezed uniformly from all sides, like a submarine in the depths of the ocean, we call this kind of stress bulk stress (or volume...
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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions
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Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions

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Effect of Polymer Gel Elasticity on Complex Coacervate Phase Behavior.

Kathryn G Wilcox1, Kai R Yamagami1, Brittany K Roopnarine1

  • 1Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States.

ACS Polymers Au
|April 15, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Complex coacervate droplet size in polyacrylamide gels decreases with increasing gel stiffness. This research explores how elastic environments influence biomacromolecular assembly in cellular systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Gels, such as biological tissues, are crucial for controlling biocondensate formation and structure.
  • Understanding the influence of elastic environments on biomacromolecular assembly is vital for comprehending cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phase behavior and radii of complex coacervate droplets within polyacrylamide (PAM) networks.
  • To determine the effect of varying gel modulus on the size and stability of these coacervate droplets.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of poly-l-lysine (PLL) and sodium hyaluronate (HA) coacervate phases within PAM gels of moduli ranging from 0.035 to 15.0 kPa.
  • Analysis of droplet size using bright-field and confocal fluorescence microscopy.
  • Determination of phase behavior and HA concentration as a function of ionic strength using fluorescence microscopy.

Main Results:

  • Complex coacervate droplet volume was found to decrease inversely with the gel modulus.
  • Critical ionic strength and coacervate stability exhibited a non-monotonic relationship with network modulus.
  • Local gel concentration was identified as a controllable factor for phase behavior and droplet size.

Conclusions:

  • Elastic environments significantly influence the electrostatic assembly of biomacromolecules.
  • The findings provide insights into how biomacromolecules behave in complex, crowded, and elastic cellular environments.
  • This study enhances our understanding of biocondensate formation and structure within biological systems.