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Related Concept Videos

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

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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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Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta...
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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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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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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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Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
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Constructing Multifunctional Composite Single Crystals via Polymer Gel Incorporation.

Zhiwen Mao1, Jie Ren1, Hanying Li1

  • 1MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, International Research Center for X Polymers, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.

Polymers
|August 29, 2024
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Summary

This study reviews gel-incorporated single crystals, a composite material combining biomacromolecules and crystal structures. This bio-inspired method enables functionalization for applications in materials science and optoelectronics.

Keywords:
compositefunctiongel incorporationmechanismsingle crystal

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Crystallography
  • Biomineralization

Background:

  • Biominerals often exhibit non-uniformity due to incorporated biomacromolecules.
  • This composite structure offers a unique combination of heterogeneity and long-range order.
  • Polymer gel media facilitate the creation of composite single crystals with interpenetrating structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the composite structure of gel-incorporated single crystals.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of biomacromolecule and gel network incorporation.
  • To explore the diverse functionalities enabled by this bio-inspired approach.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on gel-incorporated single crystals.
  • Analysis of incorporation mechanisms of biomacromolecules and gel networks.
  • Examination of applications in crystal engineering and materials science.

Main Results:

  • Gel incorporation leads to bi-continuous interpenetrating structures without disrupting single crystallinity.
  • Dyes and nanoparticles can be occluded into single crystals via gel guidance.
  • Applications include crystal morphology control, dyeing, mechanical reinforcement, and optoelectronics.

Conclusions:

  • Gel-incorporated single crystals represent a versatile bio-inspired material system.
  • The incorporation of foreign components can be precisely controlled within single crystal matrices.
  • This approach opens avenues for advanced functional materials and devices.