1. Polymer Morphology, Thermal Properties, and Mechanical Properties
1.1. Polymer: chain of monomers
1.1.1. Polymers of significant length become entangled via physical and/or chemical bonds
1.1.1.1. Physical bonding: entanglement
1.1.1.1.1. Present in most long polymers, chains are non-covalently bonded to each other by intermolecular forces
1.1.1.2. Chemical bonding: crosslinking
1.1.1.2.1. Chains are covalently bonded via external chemical reactions
1.1.2. Monomer side chains can be arranged in several ways as defined by their tacticity
1.1.2.1. Isotactic
1.1.2.1.1. Regular, identical stereochemistry (e.g. all side groups are on the same side)
1.1.2.2. Syndiotactic
1.1.2.2.1. Alternating stereochemistry
1.1.2.3. Atactic
1.1.2.3.1. Random stereochemistry
1.1.2.4. Significance of tacticity
1.1.2.4.1. Tacticity can change a polymer's structure, ability to crystallize, and subsequent mechanical properties
1.1.2.4.2. Atacticity can impede a polymer's ability to crystallize as random groups gets in the way of close packing
1.1.2.4.3. Isotactic (and usually syndiotactic) enhances a polymer's ability to crystallize as regular side groups allows chains to pack closely
1.1.2.4.4. Tacticity doesn't always make a big difference
1.1.3. Monomers can have different reactivity levels depending on chemical structure
1.1.3.1. Functionality
1.1.3.1.1. The number of groups that can react
1.1.4. Polymers are either aligned (crystalline), unaligned (amorphous), or both (semi-crystalline)
1.1.4.1. Crystalline
1.1.4.1.1. Polymer is entirely aligned and organized
1.1.4.2. Amorphous
1.1.4.2.1. Polymer is entirely unaligned and disorganized
1.1.4.3. Semi-crystalline
1.1.4.3.1. Polymer with both amorphous and crystalline regions called crystals