Polymer architecture

Polymer architecture in polymer science relates to the way branching leads to a deviation from a strictly linear polymer chain. Branching may occur randomly or reactions may be designed so that specific architectures are targeted. It is an important microstructural feature. A polymer's architecture affects many of its physical properties including solution viscosity, melt viscosity, solubility in various solvents, glass transition temperature and the size of individual polymer coils in solution. Polymer architecture in polymer science relates to the way branching leads to a deviation from a strictly linear polymer chain. Branching may occur randomly or reactions may be designed so that specific architectures are targeted. It is an important microstructural feature. A polymer's architecture affects many of its physical properties including solution viscosity, melt viscosity, solubility in various solvents, glass transition temperature and the size of individual polymer coils in solution.