polyterpenic

Polyterpenic is an adjective used to refer to anything relating to polyterpenes, a class of high-molecular-weight polymers derived from terpenes. In chemistry, polyterpenic materials may be natural or synthetic. Terpenes are hydrocarbons built from isoprene units; when linked into long chains, they form polyterpenes. Natural examples include polyisoprenes such as natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) and gutta-percha (trans-1,4-polyisoprene), polymers that have served in applications from tires to dental products.

Synthetic polyterpenes can be produced by polymerizing terpene-derived monomers, yielding materials with tailor-made properties for coatings, adhesives, and specialty polymers. The term polyterpenic is used to describe properties, derivatives, or processes associated with such polymers, including backbone functionalization, copolymerization, and material performance. The field intersects organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and materials science, with interest in renewable feedstocks and the unique attributes imparted by terpene-derived backbones, such as hydrocarbon-rich composition and potential biocompatibility.