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Pure Appl. Chem., Vol. 68, No.12, pp. 2287-2311, 1996

MACROMOLECULAR DIVISION

COMMISSION ON MACROMOLECULAR NOMENCLATURE

Glossary of basic terms in polymer science
(IUPAC Recommendations 1996)

Prepared for publication by A. D. Jenkins (UK), P. Kratochvìl (Czech Republic), R. F. T. Stepto (UK), and U. W. Suter (Switzerland)

SUBSTANCES

2.1 monomer

A substance composed of monomer molecules (see Definition 1.3).

2.2 polymer

A substance composed of macromolecules (see Definition 1.1).

2.3 oligomer

A substance composed of oligomer molecules (see Definition 1.2).

Note

An oligomer obtained by telomerization (see Definition 3.2) is often termed a telomer.

2.4 homopolymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) derived from one species of (real, implicit or hypothetical) monomer (see Definition 2.1).

Notes
1. Many polymers are made by the mutual reaction of complementary monomers. These monomers can readily be visualized as reacting to give an "implicit monomer", the homopolymerization of which would give the actual product, which can be regarded as a homopolymer. Common examples are poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(hexamethylene adipamide).
2. Some polymers are obtained by the chemical modification of other polymers such that the structure of the macromolecules that constitute the resulting polymer can be thought of as having been formed by the homopolymerization of a hypothetical monomer. These polymers can be regarded as homopolymers. Example: poly(vinyl alcohol).

2.5 copolymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) derived from more than one species of monomer (see Definition 2.1).

Note
Copolymers that are obtained by copolymerization (see Definition 3.4) of two monomer species are sometimes termed bipolymers, those obtained from three monomers terpolymers, those obtained from four monomers quaterpolymers, etc..


2.6 pseudo-copolymer

An irregular polymer (see Definition 2.16), the molecules of which are derived from only one species of monomer (see Definition 2.1) but which display a variety of structural features more appropriate for description in copolymer (see Definition 2.5) terms.

Note
Where appropriate, adjectives specifying the types of copolymer may be applied to pseudo-copolymer. The term statistical pseudo-copolymer, for instance, may be used to describe an irregular polymer in the molecules of which the sequential distribution of configurational units obeys known statistical laws (see Definition 2.9).

2.7 co-oligomer

An oligomer (see Definition 2.3) derived from more than one species of monomer (see Definition 2.1).

2.8 pseudo-co-oligomer

An irregular oligomer (see Definition 2.3), the molecules of which are derived from only one species of monomer (see Definition 2.1) but which display a variety of structural features more appropriate for description in co-oligomer (see Definition 2.7) terms.

2.9 statistical copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) consisting of macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) in which the sequential distribution of the monomeric units (see Definition 1.8) obeys known statistical laws.

Note
An example of a statistical copolymer is one consisting of macromolecules in which the sequential distribution of monomeric units follows Markovian statistics.

2.10 random copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) consisting of macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) in which the probability of finding a given monomeric unit (see Definition 1.8) at any given site in the chain (see Definition 1.30) is independent of the nature of the adjacent units.

Note
In a random copolymer, the sequence distribution of monomeric units follows Bernoullian statistics.

2.11 alternating copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) consisting of macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) comprising two species of monomeric units (see Definition 1.8) in alternating sequence.

Note
An alternating copolymer may be considered as a homopolymer derived from an implicit or hypothetical monomer; see Note 1 to Definition 2.4.

2.12 periodic copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) consisting of macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) comprising more than two species of monomeric units (see Definition 1.8) in regular sequence.

2.13 uniform polymer

monodisperse polymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) composed of molecules uniform with respect to relative molecular mass and constitution.

Notes
1. A polymer comprising a mixture of linear (see Definition 1.32) and branched (see Definition 1.33) chains, all of uniform relative molecular mass, is not uniform.
2. A copolymer comprising linear molecules of uniform relative molecular mass and uniform elemental composition but different sequential arrangements of the various types of monomeric units (see Definition 1.8), is not uniform (e.g., a copolymer comprising molecules with a random arrangement as well as a block arrangement of monomeric units).
3. A polymer uniform with respect only to either relative molecular mass or constitution may be termed uniform, provided a suitable qualifier is used (e.g., "a polymer uniform with respect to relative molecular mass").
4. The adjectives monodisperse and polydisperse are deeply rooted in the literature, despite the former being non-descriptive and self-contradictory. They are in common usage and it is recognized that they will continue to be used for some time; nevertheless, more satisfactory terms are clearly desirable. After an extensive search for possible replacements, the terms uniform and non-uniform have been selected and they are now the preferred adjectives.

2.14 non-uniform polymer

polydisperse polymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) comprising molecules non-uniform with respect to relative molecular mass or constitution or both.

Note
See Notes 3 and 4 to Definition 2.13.

2.15 regular polymer

A polymer composed of regular macromolecules (see Definition 1.4), regular star macromolecules (see Definition 1.51), or regular comb macromolecules (see Definition 1.52).

Note
A polymer consisting of star macromolecules with arms identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerisation is considered to be regular; see Note 2 to Definition 1.51. Analogously, a polymer consisting of comb macromolecules with the sub-chains between the branch points of the main chain and the terminal sub-chains of the main chain identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerisation and the side-chains identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerisation is considered to be regular; see Note 1 to Definition 1.52.

2.16 irregular polymer

A polymer composed of irregular macromolecules (see Definition 1.5).

2.17 tactic polymer

A polymer composed of tactic macromolecules (see Definition 1.21).

2.18 isotactic polymer

A polymer composed of isotactic macromolecules (see Definition 1.23).

2.19 syndiotactic polymer

A polymer composed of syndiotactic macromolecules (see Definition 1.24).

2.20 stereoregular polymer

A polymer composed of stereoregular macromolecules (see Definition 1.22).

 

 

2.21 atactic polymer

A polymer composed of atactic macromolecules (see Definition 1.25).

2.22 block polymer

A polymer composed of block macromolecules (see Definition 1.26).

2.23 graft polymer

A polymer composed of graft macromolecules (see Definition 1.28).

2.24 block copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) that is a block polymer (see Definition 2.22).

Note
In the constituent macromolecules of a block copolymer, adjacent blocks are constitutionally different, i.e., adjacent blocks comprise constitutional units (see Definition 1.14) derived from different species of monomer (see Definition 2.1) or from the same species of monomer but with a different composition or sequence distribution of constitutional units.

2.25 graft copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) that is a graft polymer (see Definition 2.23).

Note
In the constituent macromolecules of a graft copolymer, adjacent blocks in the main chain or side-chains, or both, are constitutionally different, i.e., adjacent blocks comprise constitutional units (see Definition 1.14) derived from different species of monomer (see Definition 2.1) or from the same species of monomer but with a different composition or sequence distribution of constitutional units.

2.26 stereoblock polymer

A polymer composed of stereoblock macromolecules (see Definition 1.29).

2.27 linear polymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) composed of linear macromolecules (see Definition 1.6).

2.28 linear copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5) composed of linear macromolecules (see Definition 1.6).

2.29 single-strand polymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2), the macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) of which are single-strand macromolecules (see Definition 1.39).

2.30 double-strand polymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2), the macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) of which are double-strand macromolecules (see Definition 1.41).

Notes
1. A polymer, the macromolecules of which are spiro macromolecules (see Definition 1.43), is termed a spiro polymer.
2.
A polymer, the macromolecules of which are ladder macromolecules (see Definition 1.45), is termed a ladder polymer.

2.31 double-strand copolymer

A copolymer (see Definition 2.5), the macromolecules (see Definition 1.1) of which are double-strand macromolecules (see Definition 1.41).

2.32 star polymer

A polymer composed of star macromolecules (see Definition 1.51).

2.33 comb polymer

A polymer composed of comb macromolecules (see Definition 1.52).

Note
See the Notes to Definitions 1.52 and 2.15

2.34 branched polymer

A polymer (see Definition 2.2), the molecules of which are branched chains (see Definition 1.33).

2.35 macromonomer

A polymer composed of macromonomer molecules (see Definition 1.9).

 

 

2.36 mesogenic monomer

A monomer (see Definition 2.1) which can impart the properties of liquid crystals to the polymers (see Definition 2.2) formed by its polymerization (see Definition 3.1).

2.37 pre-polymer

A polymer or oligomer composed of pre-polymer molecules (see Definition 1.11).

2.38 polyelectrolyte

A polymer composed of polyelectrolyte molecules (see Definition 1.65).

2.39 ionomer

A polymer composed of ionomer molecules (see Definition 1.66).

2.40 polymer blend

A macroscopically homogeneous mixture of two or more different species of polymer (see Definition 2.2).

Notes
1. In most cases, blends are homogeneous on scales smaller than several times visual optical wavelengths.
2.
For polymer blends, no account is taken of the miscibility or immiscibility of the constituent polymers, i.e., no assumption is made regarding the number of phases present.
3.
The use of the term polymer alloy for a polymer blend is discouraged.

 

2.41 network polymer

polymer network

A polymer composed of one or more networks (see Definition 1.58).

2.42 semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN)

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) comprising one or more networks (see Definition 1.58) and one or more linear (see Definition 1.32) or branched (see Definition 1.33) polymer(s) characterized by the penetration on a molecular scale of at least one of the networks by at least some of the linear or branched macromolecules.

Note
Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks are distinguished from interpenetrating polymer networks because the constituent linear or branched polymers can, in principle, be separated from the constituent polymer network(s) without breaking chemical bonds; they are polymer blends.

2.43 interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)

A polymer (see Definition 2.2) comprising two or more networks (see Definition 1.58) which are at least partially interlaced on a molecular scale but not covalently bonded to each other and cannot be separated unless chemical bonds are broken.

Note
A mixture of two or more pre-formed polymer networks is not an IPN.

2.44 polymer-polymer complex

A complex, at least two components of which are different polymers (see Definition 2.2).

 

 


 


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