polymer

Also known as polymers

thumb|upright=0.8|Appearance of real linear polymer chains as recorded using an atomic force microscope on a surface, under liquid medium. Chain [[contour length for this polymer is ~204 nm; thickness is ~0.4 nm.]]

AI overview

A polymer is a large molecule made up of many smaller units linked together in a chain, as shown in this microscope image where individual polymer chains appear as tiny threads only a fraction of a nanometer thick. Polymers matter because their chain-like structure gives them useful properties that make them valuable for countless applications in materials science and manufacturing.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Research

1,321,849 papers

Polymer Based Protein Therapeutics.ReviewCurrent protein & peptide science · 2018Bhawani SA, Husaini A, Ahmad FB et al.DOI: 10.2174/1389203718666170821162823
Covalent polymer-drug conjugates.ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2005Elvira C, Gallardo A, Roman JS et al.DOI: 10.3390/10010114
Recent Advances in Polymer Flooding in China.ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Song K, Tao J, Lyu X et al.DOI: 10.3390/molecules27206978
Polymer therapeutics as nanomedicines: new perspectives.ReviewCurrent opinion in biotechnology · 2011Duncan RDOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.05.507
Exploring structure-activity relationships for polymer biodegradability by microorganisms.ReviewThe Science of the total environment · 2023Kim JR, Thelusmond JR, Albright VC 3rd et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164338
PEEK polymer's properties and its use in prosthodontics. A review.ReviewStomatologija · 2018Skirbutis G, Dzingutė A, Masiliūnaitė V et al.
Bacterial peptidoglycan as a living polymer.ReviewCurrent opinion in chemical biology · 2025El-Araby AM, Fisher JF, Mobashery SDOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.102562
[Application of biomanufacturing in polymer flooding].ReviewSheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology · 2025Zhou J, Pan Q, Huang L et al.DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.240257

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Wikidata facts

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Commons category: Polymers
NCI Thesaurus ID: C48803

Sources (3)

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~48 min read

Article

41 sections

Contents

Etymology
Common examples
Natural
Space polymer
Synthetic
Synthesis
Biological synthesis
Modification of natural polymers
Structure
Monomers and repeat units
Microstructure
Polymer architecture{{Anchor|Intermolecular forces}}
Chain length
Monomer arrangement in copolymers
Tacticity
Morphology
Crystallinity
Chain conformation
Properties
Mechanical properties
Tensile strength
Young's modulus of elasticity
Transport properties
Phase behavior
Crystallization and melting
Glass transition
Mixing behavior
Inclusion of plasticizers
Chemical properties
Optical properties
Electrical properties
Applications
Standardized nomenclature
Characterization
Degradation
Product failure
History
See also
References
Bibliography
External links

A polymer () is a substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, both synthetic and natural polymers play essential and ubiquitous roles in everyday life. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure and function. Polymers, both natural and synthetic, are created via polymerization of many small molecules, known as monomers. Their consequently large molecular mass, relative to small molecule compounds, produces unique physical properties including toughness, high elasticity, viscoelasticity, and a tendency to form amorphous and semicrystalline structures rather than crystals.