polymer
nounUK /ˈpɒl.ɪ.mə/ · US /ˈpɑ.lɪ.mɚ/
Etymology From poly- + -mer, from Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, “many”) + μέρος (méros, “part”). Coined by Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1833, though his definition was quite different from the modern one.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Organic chemistry, Physical sciences A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.
2
A material consisting of such polymer molecules.
- The water absorbency of the anionically starch-grafted AA/AM absorbent is markedly affected by the pH of the buffer solution at different ionic strengths. The charge of the ionic monomer affects the pH sensitivity of the superabsorbent polymers. An acidic superabsorbent normally ionizes at high pH but unionizes at low pH.2000 October 1, Suda Kiatkamjornwong, Wararuk Chomsaksakul, Manit Sonsuk, “Radiation modification of water absorption of cassava starch by acrylic acid/acrylamide”, in Radiation Physics and Chemistry, volume 59, number 4, →DOI, page 423:
- Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:
- Derived terms
60 terms
autopolymer, azopolymer, biopolymer, bipolymer, block polymer, ceramer, colestipol, copolymer, exopolymer, fluoropolymer, geopolymer, glycopolymer, graft polymer, halato-telechelic polymer, halfmer, heteropolymer, hexapolymer, homopolymer, hydropolymer, hydroxypolymer, hyperpolymer, inorganic polymer, interpolymer, intrapolymer, lipopolymer, macropolymer, metallopolymer, micropolymer, monopolymer, multipolymer, nanopolymer, oligopolymer, photopolymer, piezopolymer, polymerase, polymer chemistry, polymeric, polymerics, polymeride, polymerise, polymerism, polymerization, polymerize, polymerlike, polymerogenic, polymerone, polymerous, polymersome, polyplex, prepolymer, ribopolymer, silane-modified polymer, star polymer, stereospecific polymer, superpolymer, technopolymer, terpolymer, thermopolymer, tribopolymer, tripolymer- Hyponyms
33 terms
biopolymer, block polymer, copolymer, exopolymer, geopolymer, glycopolymer, graft polymer, heteropolymer, homopolymer, hydropolymer, hydroxypolymer, hyperpolymer, inorganic polymer, interpolymer, intrapolymer, lipopolymer, macropolymer, metallopolymer, micropolymer, monopolymer, multipolymer, nanopolymer, oligopolymer, photopolymer, piezopolymer, ribopolymer, star polymer, stereospecific polymer, technopolymer, terpolymer, thermopolymer, tribopolymer, tripolymer