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Article: Polymers 101: an introduction to multi-unit molecules.
- Article from:
- Adhesives & Sealants Industry
- Article date:
- May 1, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 BNP Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
What is a Polymer?
The simplest definition of a polymer is "something made of many units." Think of a polymer as a chain. Each link is the "-mer," or basic unit that is usually made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or silicon. To make the chain, many links or "-mers" are hooked or polymerized together. Polymerization can be demonstrated by linking countless strips of construction paper together to make paper garlands or by hooking together hundreds of paper clips to form chains.
THE STRUCTURE OF POLYMERS
Many common classes of polymers are composed of hydrocarbons. These polymers are specifically made of small ...