Copolymer

Copolymers or heteropolymers are polymers which are composed of two or more different types of monomer units.

Classification

Copolymers can be divided into five classes, as will be illustrated with reference to a binary copolymer, which is composed of two different comonomers A and B:

Copolymers made from three different monomers, known as terpolymers ( ABCABCABCABCABCABC. ..). This group of the copolymers can be divided into the classes listed above.

Cross-linked copolymers, see: thermosets (Note: Thermosets are not in the general sense crosslinked copolymers; You CAN be copolymers However, many thermosets are homopolymers. ).

The monomers from which the copolymers are prepared, may be combined in various ways. The four most common are (example with two monomers A and B):

Interaction parameter in copolymer blends are shown with the Schubert plot.

Examples

Acrylonitrile -butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS ); Styrene- acrylonitrile (SAN); Polyethylene oxide -b- polypropylene oxide ( (PEO -b -PPO ) Pluronic ); polyalkylene glycol ethers; poloxamers