Term

AFM

Alcohol

Amide

Branch point

Carboxylic acid

Chain growth polymerisation

Copolymer

Degree of polymerisation

End group

Entanglement

Ester

Ethyl

Extent of polymerisation

Functional group

Functionality

Homopolymer
Main chain

Methyl

Mn

Monomer

Mw

Oligomer

Polyaddition

Polycondensation

Polydispersity

Polymer

Polymer crystals

Propyl

Repeat unit

Spherulite

Step growth polymerisation

TEM
Vinyl
Description

Atomic force microscopy

R-OH, where R represents the rest of the molecule

R-(C=O)-NR'R'', where R, R' and R'' represent the rest of the molecule, and in the case of the
amide, R' and R'' can be H

The point in a polymer chain at which an atom (e.g. hydrogen) on that chain is replaced by
another covalently bonded chain of that polymer

R-(C=O)-OH, where R represents the rest of the molecule

Unsaturated monomer moelcules add on to the active site of a growing polymer chain one
molecule at a time

A polymer formed from two or more types of monomers

The number of repeat units in a polymer or oligomer molecule

Functionalities or constituent units that are at the extremity (end) of a polymer or oligomer

Interlocking of polymer chains in a polymer material forming a transient or permanent network

junction over the time-scale of the measurement

R-(C=O)-OR', where R and R' represent the rest of the molecule

-CH2CH3

The proportion of reactive groups that has reacted in the polymerisation process - aiming for p >
0.99

A group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound (e.g.
carboxylic acid group, alcohol group, ester group)

Number of reactive groups on a monomer

A polymer formed from a single type of monomer

Also called "backbone" or "backbone chain" - the longest series of covalently bonded atoms that
together create the continuous chain of the molecule

-CH3

M N   XiMi 
N M
i i

Number average molecular weight N i

A single mer unit (n=1) - a molecule that forms the basic unit for polymers

N M
2

M W   Wi M i  i i

Weight average molecular weight N M i i

Polymers that consist of a small number (<100) of repeat units

A polymerisation in which the growth of polymer chains proceeds by addition reactions between
molecules (where no byproducts are formed)

A polymerisation in which the growth of polymer chains proceeds by condensation reactions

between molecules (where byproducts are formed)

More recently just dispersity (based on IUPAC recommendation) - the degree of nonuniformity
of a distribution. In polymers, indicated by Mw/Mn

A molecule of high molecular mass, the structure of which comprises the multiple repetition of
units derived from molecules of low molecular mass.

A crystalline domain usually limited by well-defined boundaries. Polymer crystals frequently do

not display the perfection that is usual for low-molar-mass substances.

-CH2CH2CH3

The elementary unit that repeats itself along the polymer chain - derived from the monomer;
the basic structural unit of the polymer

a small spheroidal mass of crystals grouped radially around a point.

In which bi-functional or multi-functional molecules react to form first dimers then trimers then
longer oligomers then eventually polymers

Transmission electron microscopy

-CH2=CHX where X is an atom or molecule other than H
0
M N   XiMi 
N M
i i

N i

N M
2

M W   Wi M i  i i

N M i i