Abstract

CORENO-ALONSO, Juan  and  MENDEZ-BAUTISTA, María Teresa. Relationship between structure and properties of polymers. Educ. quím [online]. 2010, vol.21, n.4, pp.291-299. ISSN 0187-893X.

This paper shows the main relationships that exist between the structural characteristics of polymers and their more common properties. These relations are explained, generally, by using commercial polymers as examples. Factors such as chemical composition, molecular weight, structural order, branching, crosslinking and intermolecular forces are related to cristallinity degree, flexibility of the polymer chains, glass temperature transition, melting point, and mechanical properties, mainly. These relationships are used to analyze two important mechanical behaviors of polymers: the variation of modulus of relaxation as a function of temperature and their responses when subjected to stress-strain tests, which is the basis of a widely used classification for polymers.

Keywords : cristallinity; thermal transitions; mechanical properties; polymer structure.