Physics and Chemistry of Polymers and Sustainable Polymer-Based Materials
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 6166
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bio-based polymers; alginate hydrogels; sustainability; green chemistry; nanotechnology; heterogeneous catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers. They are essential in our daily lives and play a crucial role in various fields, including materials science, medicine, and engineering. The physics and chemistry of polymers involve understanding their structure, properties, and behavior.
From a chemical perspective, polymers can be classified into three major types: addition polymers, condensation polymers, and copolymers. Addition polymers are formed through a reaction where monomers join together without the elimination of any byproducts. Examples include polyethylene and polypropylene. Condensation polymers, on the other hand, are formed by a reaction between two different monomers, with the elimination of small molecules such as water or alcohol. Common examples include polyesters and polyamides. Copolymers consist of two or more different types of monomers and can be either alternating, random, or block copolymers.
The physical properties of polymers are influenced by their molecular structure and arrangement. The length and flexibility of the polymer chains, as well as the presence of side groups or branches, affect properties like strength, elasticity, and solubility. Polymers can exist in various states, including amorphous and crystalline phases, which further influence their mechanical and thermal behavior. Crystalline polymers have ordered arrangements of polymer chains, leading to increased stiffness and melting points compared to amorphous polymers. Polymer physics explores the behavior of polymers under different conditions. The mechanical properties of polymers, such as tensile strength, elasticity, and viscosity, are studied using techniques like stress–strain analysis and rheology. Understanding polymer viscoelasticity is crucial for designing materials with desired properties, such as in the development of flexible packaging or durable construction materials.
In summary, the physics and chemistry of polymers delve into the study of their structure, properties, and behavior. By understanding the relationships between molecular structure and material properties, scientists and engineers can develop and optimize polymers for a wide range of applications, revolutionizing industries and advancing technology in numerous fields. This strategy and interplay between polymer chemistry and physics will also be beneficial in the commercialization of bio-based and sustainable polymers.
Dr. Khaled Sebakhy
Guest Editor
Dr. Julien Es Sayed
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- polymer synthesis
- polymer chemistry
- polymer physics
- polymer applications
- living radical polymerization (LRP)
- polymer rheology
- bio-based polymers
- sustainable polymers
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