Polymeric

Polymeric is an adjective relating to polymers, which are large molecules composed of repeating subunits called monomers linked by covalent bonds. In chemistry and materials science, polymeric materials exhibit properties that arise from their long-chain structure and high molecular weight. Polymerization is the chemical process that creates polymers from monomers, occurring by addition (where monomers add to a growing chain) or condensation (with the release of small molecules). Polymers can have different architectures, including linear, branched, and crosslinked networks. Natural polymers such as cellulose, proteins, and nucleic acids occur in living organisms; synthetic polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), and nylon are manufactured for widespread use.

Key properties of polymeric materials depend on chain length, composition, tacticity, crystallinity, and crosslinking. They may be thermoplastics (softened by heat and re-molded) or thermosets (set permanently through crosslinking) or elastomers (extensively flexible). Characteristic parameters include molecular weight and distribution, glass transition temperature, melting temperature, and mechanical properties. Processing methods such as extrusion, injection molding, fiber spinning, and casting shape these materials for applications in packaging, textiles, coatings, electronics, and automotive components. Common characterization techniques include gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and rheology.

Polymeric materials offer tunable properties through changes in monomer choice, polymerization method, and architecture, enabling a wide range of applications. Environmental considerations include durability, recyclability, and end-of-life management, as well as biodegradability for certain polymers. The term is also used in biology to describe macromolecules like polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids, which are polymers of sugars, amino acids, and nucleotides, respectively.