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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

34.3K
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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Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.1K
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...
2.1K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.4K
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...
3.4K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.0K
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...
2.0K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.2K
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...
2.2K
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

7.6K
The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
7.6K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

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Dimerization of model polymer chains under nonequilibrium conditions.

Sangita Mondal1, Ved Mahajan2, Biman Bagchi1

  • 1SSCU, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.

The Journal of Chemical Physics
|March 26, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Polymer dimerization dynamics depend on initial separation. At short distances, fast dimerization occurs; at larger distances, collapse precedes dimerization, potentially preventing it within simulation time.

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Area of Science:

  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Polymer Physics
  • Computational Biophysics

Background:

  • Polymer and biopolymer dimerization and aggregation are common under nonequilibrium conditions.
  • Dimerization dynamics are influenced by initial polymer states and conformational dynamics.
  • Understanding these processes is crucial for various applications, including drug delivery and materials science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of initial separation distance on polymer dimerization dynamics.
  • To explore the interplay between polymer collapse, dimerization, and escape processes.
  • To develop quantitative measures for analyzing these competing dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Langevin dynamics simulations with a coarse-grained polymer model.
  • Employed analytical theory, including the dynamical disorder model, for theoretical analysis.
  • Introduced time-dependent order parameters: radius of gyration (RG(t)), center-to-center distance (RMM), and overlap function (Q(t)).

Main Results:

  • At initial separations (d0) shorter than polymer length, fast, irreversible dimerization occurs from partly extended states.
  • For d0 exceeding a critical distance (dc), polymer collapse precedes dimerization.
  • A significant fraction of polymers do not dimerize within the simulation timescale when initial separation is large.

Conclusions:

  • Initial polymer separation critically dictates dimerization pathways and efficiency.
  • The competition between collapse and dimerization is sensitive to initial conditions.
  • The developed order parameters and theoretical models provide a framework for quantifying these complex dynamics.