homopolümeer

A homopolymer is a type of polymer that is formed from only one type of monomer. Monomers are small molecules that can chemically bond together to form a long chain, which is the polymer. In a homopolymer, all the repeating units in the polymer chain are derived from the same single monomer. This is in contrast to copolymers, which are formed from two or more different types of monomers.

The properties of a homopolymer are largely determined by the chemical structure of its constituent monomer. For example, polyethylene, a common homopolymer, is made from repeating ethylene monomers. Its properties vary depending on how the ethylene monomers are linked together, leading to different types of polyethylene such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which have distinct applications. Other well-known homopolymers include polystyrene, derived from styrene monomers, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), made from vinyl chloride monomers. The arrangement and bonding of these monomers create the macroscopic characteristics of the resulting plastic material.