1. Basic Definitions
1.1 Most important definitions
Polymer: A polymer (from the Greek words πολύ- - poly- meaning "many"; and
μέρος - meros meaning "part") is a large molecule (macromolecule) composed
of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent
chemical bonds.
Monomer: A monomer (from Greek mono "one" and meros "part") is an atom
or a small molecule that may bind chemically to other monomers to form a
polymer.
Example:
monomer: styrene
polymer: polystyrene
Degree of polymerization: The degree of polymerization (n or N) is defined as
the number of monomeric units in a macromolecule or polymer or oligomer
molecule. (Because in reality polymers consists of chains of different length, the
average value is used.)
Polymerization: transition of low molecular weight constitutes (monomers) into
high molecular weight constitutes (polymers) via a chemical reaction
Macromolecule: molecule which consists of one or of several types of atoms or
groups of atoms chemically linked into long chains or networks
(Introduced by Hermann Staudinger this definition implies a lower limit for the
degree of polymerization of 10000 g/mol for a macromolecule.)
Oligomer: An oligomer is a molecule that consists of a few monomer units
(from Greek ολιγος, or oligos, for "a few"), in contrast to a polymer that, at least
in principle, consists of an unlimited number of monomers.
(Most likely the oligomer has different physical properties as compared with the
polymer.)
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1.2 How to name the polymer?
In general different approaches:
a) subunit-based – to the name of the monomer the prefix poly is added, e.g.:
styrene → polystyrene – common in literature in case of simple
homopolymers
b) structure-based – names are defined by the IUPAC and are oriented at the
chemical structure, e.g.: poly(1-phenylethyle) instead of polystyrene –
common in case of complex and branched polymers
c) bond-based – the family name is the prefix poly with the added name of the
bond, e.g.: polysiloxane for − O − Si − - common as an umbrella term
d) abbreviations – most likely only capital letters, e.g.: PS for polystyrene or
PMMA for polymethylmethacrylate – very common and useful in literature,
buts definition and is not unique (e.g. PI can be polyisoprene or polyimide)
e) trade names – are used by industry or in daily life, e.g.: Plexiglas for PMMA
or Styrofoam for PS – the names have copyright protection and can describe
complex polymer mixtures or special treated polymer
1.3 Copolymers with short sequences
Copolymers consist of two or more different types of monomers
type
homopolymer
not specified
statistical
random
periodic
alternating
network
connection
none
-co-stat-ran-per-altnet-
example
polyA
poly(A-co-B)
poly(A-stat-B)
poly(A-ran-B)
poly(A-per-B)
poly(A-alt-B)
nez-polyA
homopolymer
statistical copolymer
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1.4 Copolymers with long sequences
type
block copolymer
connection
-block-
example
poly(A-block-B)
diblock copolymer
triblock copolymer
1.5 Polymer architecture
In addition to linear type many possibilities
Chain architecture influences physical parameters such as the polymer-polymer
interaction parameter or the entropy
and thus influences the observable behavior of the polymer with respect to the
morphology or adsorption.
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