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).