Polymer Science Glossary
25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Polymer Science.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
A polymer that can be decomposed by biological organisms into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.
A conjugated polymer that can conduct electricity when doped with oxidizing or reducing agents.
A polymer derived from two or more different types of monomers.
The formation of covalent bonds between polymer chains, creating a network structure.
The degree of structural order in a polymer; the fraction of the material composed of ordered, closely packed crystalline lamellae.
A thermal analysis method that measures heat flow associated with phase transitions and reactions in polymers.
The ratio of weight-average to number-average molecular weight (Mw/Mn), indicating the breadth of molecular weight distribution.
A polymer with rubber-like elasticity that can undergo large, reversible deformations.
A polymer processing technique in which molten polymer is forced through a die to produce continuous shapes such as films, pipes, and fibers.
An analytical technique that separates polymers by molecular size in solution to determine molecular weight distribution.
The temperature at which an amorphous polymer transitions from a hard, glassy state to a flexible, rubbery state.
A polymer formed from only one type of monomer unit.
A manufacturing process in which molten polymer is injected into a mold cavity, cooled, and ejected as a finished part.
A very large molecule, typically composed of thousands or more atoms, often a polymer.
A small molecule capable of reacting with other monomers to form a polymer chain.
An additive that increases polymer flexibility by embedding between chains and lowering the glass transition temperature.
A macromolecule composed of many repeating monomer units joined by covalent bonds.
A physical mixture of two or more polymers that may be miscible or immiscible.
A material combining a polymer matrix with reinforcing fibers or fillers to achieve superior mechanical properties.
The chemical reaction in which monomers are joined together to form a polymer.
The relative stereochemistry of adjacent chiral centers within a polymer chain (isotactic, syndiotactic, or atactic).
A polymer that can be repeatedly softened by heating and hardened by cooling without chemical change.
A polymer that, once cured into a cross-linked network, cannot be remelted or reshaped.
Behavior of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation.
A chemical process in which natural or synthetic rubber is heated with sulfur to form cross-links, improving strength and elasticity.