Structurally characteristic polymer

Polymer engineers and scientists who are able both to recognize the importance of the polymer-processing-polymer structural characteristic-polymer property interrelation and to apply available knowledge in an orderly and logical sequence will not only optimize their own professional performance but also master a complicated and important industrial area. 

Kuznetsov GK, Irgen LA (1976) In Thermodynamic and structural characteristics of polymer interphases, Naukova Dumka, Kiev, p 94... 

At first glance, the HRC scheme appears simple the polymer is activated, dissolved, and then submitted to derivatization. hi a few cases, polymer activation and dissolution is achieved in a single step. This simplicity, however, is deceptive as can be deduced from the following experimental observations In many cases, provided that the ratio of derivatizing agent/AGU employed is stoichiometric, the targeted DS is not achieved the reaction conditions required (especially reaction temperature and time) depend on the structural characteristics of cellulose, especially its DP, purity (in terms of a-cellulose content), and Ic. Therefore, it is relevant to discuss the above-mentioned steps separately in order to understand their relative importance to ester formation, as well as the reasons for dependence of reaction conditions on cellulose structural features. 

A Structural characteristic of conducting organic polymers is the conjugation of the chain-linked electroactive monomeric units, i.e. the monomers interact via a 7t-electron system. In this respect they are fundamentally different from redox polymers. Although redox polymers also contain electroactive groups, the polymer backbone is not conjugated. Consequently, and irrespective of their charge state, redox polymers are nonconductors. Their importance for electrochemistry lies mainly in their use as materials for modified el trodes. Redox polymers have been discussed in depth in the literature and will not be included in this review. 

A challenging goal in this field, particularly from the synthetic point of view, is the development of general AB polymerization methods that achieve control over DB and narrow MWDs. Experimental results and theoretical studies mentioned above suggest that the SCV(C)P from surfaces, which are functionahzed with monolayers of initiators, permit a controlled polymerization, resulting structural characteristics (molecular weight averages, DB) of hyperbranched polymers. In particular, it is expected that the use of polyfunctional initiators with a different number of initiator functionahty, copolymerization, and slow monomer addition techniques lead to control the molecular parameters. 

In the usual chemical formulas written for chain polymers the sue-cessive units are projected as a co-linear sequence on the surface of the sheet of paper. This form of representation fails to convey what is perhaps the most significant structural characteristic of a long polymer chain, namely, its capacity to assume an enormous array of configurations. This configurational versatility is a consequence of the considerable degree of rotational freedom about single bonds of the chain. In the simple polymethylene chain, for example, the conventional formula... 

Since the prediction of the solute diffusion coefficient in a swollen matrix is complex and no quantitative theory is yet possible, Lustig and Peppas [74] made use of the scaling concept, arriving at a functional dependence of the solute diffusion coefficient on structural characteristics of the network. The resulting scaling law thus avoids a detailed description of the polymer structure and yet provides a dependence on the parameters involved. The final form of the scaling law for description of the solute diffusion in gels is... 

Material properties at a critical point were believed to be independent of the structural details of the materials. Such universality has yet to be confirmed for gelation. In fact, experiments show that the dynamic mechanical properties of a polymer are intimately related to its structural characteristics and forming conditions. A direct relation between structure and relaxation behavior of critical gels is still unknown since their structure has yet evaded detailed investigation. Most structural information relies on extrapolation onto the LST. 

In Eq. (17), Dip(Ci) is the concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient its form of concentration dependence is affected by the structural characteristics of the polymer carrier. A selective summary of the various forms of the diffusion coefficient is provided in Table I. 

In view of the development of the continuous chain model for the tensile deformation of polymer fibres, we consider the assumptions on which the Coleman model is based as too simple. For example, we have shown that the resolved shear stress governs the tensile deformation of the fibre, and that the initial orientation distribution of the chains is the most important structural characteristic determining the tensile extension below the glass transition temperature. These elements have to be incorporated in a new model. 

In polymer science and technology, linear, branched and crosslinked structures are usually distinguished. For crosslinked polymers, insolubility and lack of fusibility are considered as characteristic properties. However, insoluble polymers are not necessarily covalently crosslinked because insolubility and infusibility may be also caused by extremely high molecular masses, strong inter-molecular interaction via secondary valency forces or by the lack of suitable solvents. For a long time, insolubility was the major obstacle for characterization of crosslinked polymers because it excluded analytical methods applicable to linear and branched macromolecules. In particular, the most important structural characteristic of crosslinked polymers, the crosslink density, could mostly be determined by indirect metho ds only [ 1 ], or was expressed relatively by the fraction of crosslinking monomers used in the synthesis. 

Charged polysoaps (polymer micelles) combine within a molecule structural characteristics of the conventional micelles and polyelectrolytes, and supposedly adopt globular conformations in aqueous media with the hydrophobic region inside and charged groups outside as in water-soluble proteins. Thus,... 

Furthermore, we often know how a polymer was made, but do not know the structure of the resulting product - a famous example of this is Bakelite (phe-nol/formaldehyde resin). Conversely, as is often the case for industrial polymers, we may have some property data, but do not know how the polymer was made or any structural details. Polymeric materials in general have a history and, more often than not, it is that history which influences or completely determines its property characteristics and not the structural characteristics. The implication of this is, that a description/encoding of a polymer s history is often more relevant than an encoding of its structure. 

Simmons S, Thomas EL (1995) Structural characteristics of biodegradable thermoplastic starch/poly(ethylene-vinyl alcohol) blends. J Appl Polym Sci 58 2259-2285... 

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