polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the structures, chemical synthesis, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applic ...

, a comonomer refers to a polymerizable precursor to a copolymer aside from the principal

monomer A monomer ( ; ''mono-'', "one" + '' -mer'', "part") is a molecule that can react together with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or two- or three-dimensional network in a process called polymerization. Classification Chemis ...

. In some cases, only small amounts of a comonomer are employed, in other cases substantial amounts of comonomers are used. Furthermore, in some cases, the comonomers are statistically incorporated within the polymer chain, whereas in other cases, they aggregate. The distribution of comonomers is referred to as the " blockiness" of a copolymer.

Polyolefins

1-Octene, 1-hexene, and

1-butene 1-Butene (IUPAC name: But-1-ene, also known as 1-butylene) is the organic compound with the formula CH3CH2CH=CH2. It is a colorless gas, but easily condensed to give a colorless liquid. It is classified as a linear alpha-olefin (terminal alkene). ...

are used comonomers in the manufacture of

polyethylene Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including bott ...

s. The advantages to such copolymers has led to a focus on catalysts that facilitate the incorporation of these comonomers, e.g., constrained geometry complexes. Hexene-ethyleneCom

Comonomers are often employed to improve the plastification of polymeric materials, i.e. the flexibility of the polymer. Unlike traditional plasticizers, comonomers are not leachable.

Styrenics

In other cases, comonomers are used to introduce crosslinking. Divinylbenzene, for example, when copolymerized with styrene, gives a crosslinked polystyrene.

Acrylates

The homopolymers of acrylate esters (e.g., butyl acrylate) have few applications. Copolymers however have many applications/ They are produced by copolymerization of alkyl acrylates and one or more of the following comonomers methyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, and butadiene.{{cite book , doi=10.1002/14356007.a21_157.pub2, chapter=Polyacrylates , title=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry , year=2018 , last1=Penzel , first1=Erich , last2=Ballard , first2=Nicholas , last3=Asua , first3=José M. , pages=1–20 , isbn=9783527306732

References

Polymer chemistry