Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Polymer Synthesis: Techniques and Influence on Molecular Characteristics

In course

MSE-437: Polymer chemistry and macromolecular engineering

Know modern methods of polymer synthesis. Understand how parameters, which determine polymer structure and properties, such as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, topology, microstructure can be controlled by proper choice of polymerization me ...

Description

This lecture covers the synthesis of polymers with precise control over molecular weight, composition, and topology, including techniques like living free radical polymerization and macromolecular engineering. It also explores the impact of reaction parameters on molecular characteristics. The course organization includes self-study materials, questions and exercise sessions, and assessments through written exams and mini projects.

Instructor

Harm-Anton Klok

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Chemistry

Organic chemistry: Polymer chemistry

Related concepts (13)

Polymerization

In polymer chemistry, polymerization (American English), or polymerisation (British English), is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymer chains or three-dimensional networks. There are many forms of polymerization and different systems exist to categorize them. In chemical compounds, polymerization can occur via a variety of reaction mechanisms that vary in complexity due to the functional groups present in the reactants and their inherent steric effects.

Polymer

A polymer (ˈpɒlᵻmər; Greek poly-, "many" + -mer, "part") is a substance or material consisting of very large molecules called macromolecules, composed of many repeating subunits. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure and function.

Living polymerization

In polymer chemistry, living polymerization is a form of chain growth polymerization where the ability of a growing polymer chain to terminate has been removed. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Chain termination and chain transfer reactions are absent and the rate of chain initiation is also much larger than the rate of chain propagation. The result is that the polymer chains grow at a more constant rate than seen in traditional chain polymerization and their lengths remain very similar (i.e.

Radical polymerization

In polymer chemistry, free-radical polymerization (FRP) is a method of polymerization by which a polymer forms by the successive addition of free-radical building blocks (repeat units). Free radicals can be formed by a number of different mechanisms, usually involving separate initiator molecules. Following its generation, the initiating free radical adds (nonradical) monomer units, thereby growing the polymer chain. Free-radical polymerization is a key synthesis route for obtaining a wide variety of different polymers and materials composites.

Graft polymer

In polymer chemistry, graft polymers are segmented copolymers with a linear backbone of one composite and randomly distributed branches of another composite. The picture labeled "graft polymer" shows how grafted chains of species B are covalently bonded to polymer species A. Although the side chains are structurally distinct from the main chain, the individual grafted chains may be homopolymers or copolymers.

Related lectures (32)

Polymer Synthesis: Basics and Techniques

Explores polymer synthesis basics, including step and radical chain polymerization, molecular weight control, copolymerization, and crosslinked polymers for microengineering.

Industrial Organic Chemistry

Explores the transformation of raw materials into commercial products in the chemical industry, focusing on the production of industrial organic chemicals and polymers.

Controlled free radical polymerization

Explores controlled radical polymerization, emphasizing the challenges and strategies for achieving living polymerization with precise control over polymer properties.

Controlled Radical Polymerization: Question & Exercise Session

Explores controlled radical polymerization techniques, chain transfer agents, initiator concentrations, and polymer property control.

Polymerization Kinetics