Pendant group

A pendant group is an atom or group of atoms attached to a polymer backbone but not included in its continuous chain. Its size and chemistry can affect a polymer’s properties and reactivity.

Polymer: A substance made of macromolecules composed of repeating or connected molecular units. Pendant groups are defined by their attachment to a polymer’s chain.
Graft polymer: A polymer with chains of one composition attached as branches to a backbone of another composition. Its attached branches are large pendant structures rather than part of the main chain.
Polystyrene: A synthetic polymer whose repeat units carry phenyl groups attached to a carbon-chain backbone. Its phenyl groups are a familiar example of bulky pendant groups.
Polymer branching: A polymer architecture in which secondary chains extend from a main chain. Branching describes chain-scale architecture, whereas a pendant group may be only an atom or small substituent.
Polymer backbone: The continuous chain of atoms forming the main structural path of a polymer molecule. A pendant group lies outside this chain while remaining attached to it.
Polymer grafting: A method of attaching polymer chains to a backbone or material surface. Grafting creates pendant chains that can add new surface or bulk properties.
Poly(vinyl chloride): A thermoplastic polymer made from vinyl chloride, with chlorine atoms attached to its carbon-chain backbone. Chlorine substituents are pendant groups that affect stiffness and processing.
End group: A chemical group located at the terminal position of a polymer chain. An end group terminates a chain instead of projecting from an internal backbone position.
Monomer: A small molecule that can join with others to form a polymer or oligomer. Monomer structure often determines which groups project from the resulting polymer backbone.
Substitution reaction: A chemical reaction in which one atom or group replaces another in a molecule. Substitution can install or replace pendant groups on a polymer.

Linked from 1 page