Substance composed of macromolecules with repeating structural units
For other uses, see Polymer (disambiguation).
Polymer science
Properties
Architecture
Tacticity
Morphology
Degradation
Phase behavior
Mark–Houwink theory
UCST
LCST
Flory–Huggins solution theory
Coil–globule transition
Synthesis
Chain-growth polymerization
Free-radical polymerization
Controlled radical polymerization
ATRP
RAFT
Nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization
Step-growth polymerization
Condensation polymerization
Addition polymerization
Classification
Functional type
Polyolefin
Polyethylene
Polypropylene
Polyisobutylene
Polyurethane
Polyester
Polycarbonate
Vinyl polymers
PVC
PVA
PVAc
Polystyrene
Structure
Homopolymer
Copolymer
Gels
Hydrogels
Self-healing hydrogels
Characterization
GPC
FTIR
X-ray crystallography
DSC
NMR
TGA
DMA
Rheology
Rheometry
Viscometry
Scientists
Flory
Heeger
MacDiarmid
Shirakawa
Natta
Edwards
de Gennes
Ziegler
Staudinger
Goodyear
Baekeland
Hayward
Braconnot
Applications
Industrial production
Extrusion
Blow molding
Applied coatings
Protective Coatings
3D printing
Consumer products
Tires
Whitewalls
Cookware and bakeware
Bakelite
Food Container
Vinyl record
Kevlar
Plastic bottle
Plastic bag
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A polymer (/ˈpɒlɪmər/[2][3])
is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules called macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits.[4] Due to their broad spectrum of properties,[5] both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life.[6] Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers[7] such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure and function. Polymers, both natural and synthetic, are created via polymerization of many small molecules, known as monomers. Their consequently large molecular mass, relative to small molecule compounds, produces unique physical properties including toughness, high elasticity, viscoelasticity, and a tendency to form amorphous and semicrystalline structures rather than crystals.
Polymers are studied in the fields of polymer science (which includes polymer chemistry and polymer physics), biophysics and materials science and engineering. Historically, products arising from the linkage of repeating units by covalent chemical bonds have been the primary focus of polymer science. An emerging important area now focuses on supramolecular polymers formed by non-covalent links. Polyisoprene of latex rubber is an example of a natural polymer, and the polystyrene of styrofoam is an example of a synthetic polymer. In biological contexts, essentially all biological macromolecules—i.e., proteins (polyamides), nucleic acids (polynucleotides), and polysaccharides—are purely polymeric, or are composed in large part of polymeric components.
^Roiter, Y.; Minko, S. (2005). "AFM Single Molecule Experiments at the Solid-Liquid Interface: In Situ Conformation of Adsorbed Flexible Polyelectrolyte Chains". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 127 (45): 15688–15689. doi:10.1021/ja0558239. PMID 16277495.
^"Polymer – Definition of polymer". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
^"Define polymer". Dictionary Reference. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
^"Polymer on Britannica". 25 December 2023.
^Painter, Paul C.; Coleman, Michael M. (1997). Fundamentals of polymer science: an introductory text. Lancaster, Pa.: Technomic Pub. Co. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-56676-559-6.
^McCrum, N. G.; Buckley, C. P.; Bucknall, C. B. (1997). Principles of polymer engineering. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-19-856526-0.
^Saberi, A.; Bakhsheshi-Rad, H.R.; Abazari, S.; Ismail, A.F.; Sharif, S.; Ramakrishna, S.; Daroonparvar, M.; Berto, F. A Comprehensive Review on Surface Modifications of Biodegradable Magnesium-Based Implant Alloy: Polymer Coatings Opportunities and Challenges. Coatings 2021, 11, 747. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11070747
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In polymer chemistry, condensation polymers are any kind of polymers whose process of polymerization involves a condensation reaction (i.e. a small molecule...
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In polymer chemistry and materials science, the term "polymer" refers to large molecules whose structure is composed of multiple repeating units. Supramolecular...
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cases the polymer is used in addition to Portland cement to form Polymer Cement Concrete (PCC) or Polymer Modified Concrete (PMC). Polymers in concrete...
constitution and degree of polymerization, and the side chains are identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerization, the macromolecule is...