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Polymer science or macromolecular science is a subfield of materials science concerned with polymers, primarily synthetic polymers such as plastics and elastomers. The field of polymer science includes researchers in multiple disciplines including chemistry, physics, and engineering. This science comprises three main sub-disciplines: Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is concerned with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers. Polymer physics is concerned with the physical properties of polymer materials and engineering applications. Specifically, it seeks to present the mechanical, thermal, electronic and optical properties of polymers with respect to the underlying physics governing a polymer microstructure. Despite originating as an application of statistical physics to chain structures, polymer physics has now evolved into a discipline in its own right. Polymer characterization is concerned with the analysis of chemical structure, morphology, and the determination of physical properties in relation to compositional and structural parameters. The first modern example of polymer science is Henri Braconnot's work in the 1830s. Henri, along with Christian Schönbein and others, developed derivatives of the natural polymer cellulose, producing new, semi-synthetic materials, such as celluloid and cellulose acetate. The term "polymer" was coined in 1833 by Jöns Jakob Berzelius, though Berzelius did little that would be considered polymer science in the modern sense. In the 1840s, Friedrich Ludersdorf and Nathaniel Hayward independently discovered that adding sulfur to raw natural rubber (polyisoprene) helped prevent the material from becoming sticky. In 1844 Charles Goodyear received a U.S. patent for vulcanizing natural rubber with sulfur and heat. Thomas Hancock had received a patent for the same process in the UK the year before. This process strengthened natural rubber and prevented it from melting with heat without losing flexibility. This made practical products such as waterproofed articles possible.

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Related publications (2)

Polymer brush interfaces for protein biosensing prepared by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization

Harm-Anton Klok, Mark Billing, Michael Badoux

Thin polymer films that are able to bind proteins are of great relevance for a wide variety of biosensor and biochip applications. Some of these applications require films that have high protein bindi

2019

Synthesis of sequence-defined oligomers and polymers

Nadja Franz

The preparation of synthetic polymers with exact control over chain length and monomer sequence is one of the long-standing challenges in polymer science. Nature perfectly masters the synthesis of hig

EPFL2009

Related people (1)

Harm-Anton Klok

Related concepts (9)

Related courses (13)

Related lectures (90)

Plastic

Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptability, plus a wide range of other properties, such as being lightweight, durable, flexible, and inexpensive to produce, has led to its widespread use. Plastics typically are made through human industrial systems.

Polymer science

Polymer chemistry

Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the structures of chemicals, chemical synthesis, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applicable through a wide range of other chemistry sub-disciplines like organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Many materials have polymeric structures, from fully inorganic metals and ceramics to DNA and other biological molecules.

The course presents the main classes of photopolymers and key factors which control photopolymerization. It explains how to select the right formulation and optimize processes for a given application.

Introduction aux relations mise en œuvre-structures-propriétés des polymères, céramiques et métaux, fournissant les bases nécessaires à la sélection de matériaux et procédés pour la fabrication de com

This course provides a basic foundation in organic chemistry and polymer chemistry, including chemical nomenclature of organic compounds and polymers, an understanding of chemical structures, chemical

Polymer Structure and Mechanical Behavior MSE-234: Mechanical behaviour of materials

Explores polymer structure, properties, and behavior under different conditions, emphasizing the impact of temperature and molecular structure.

Autonomously Moving and Assembling Soft Matter Systems

Explores autonomously moving and assembling soft matter systems, focusing on hydrogel actuators, latch-mediated spring actuation, and self-spinning filament bundles.

Life-cycle Impacts of Polymers ChE-408: Process intensification and green chemistry

Explores impact categories, polymer comparison, and environmental aspects in life cycle assessment.