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Other polymers formed by cationic polymerization are homopolymers and copolymers of polyterpenes, such as pinenes (plant-derived products), that are used as tackifiers. In the field of heterocycles, 1,3,5-trioxane is copolymerized with small amounts of ethylene oxide to form the highly crystalline polyoxymethylene plastic.
Polyelectrolytes that bear both cationic and anionic repeat groups are called polyampholytes. The competition between the acid-base equilibria of these groups leads to additional complications in their physical behavior. These polymers usually only dissolve when sufficient added salt screens the interactions between oppositely charged segments.
Since polymer chains are often in close proximity to other parts of the same chain or to other chains, like-charged parts of the polymer repel each other. This repulsion leads to a swelling of the polymer. [citation needed] Polymers can also form micelles (spheres) in response to a change in pH. This behavior can occur with linear block copolymers.
Polyacrylic acid is a weak anionic polyelectrolyte, whose degree of ionisation is dependent on solution pH. In its non-ionised form at low pHs, PAA may associate with various non-ionic polymers (such as polyethylene oxide, poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, and some cellulose ethers) and form hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes. [17]
Polyampholytes are polymers that contain both positively charged (cationic) and negatively charged (anionic) functional groups within the same molecule. Their unique structure allows them to exhibit amphoteric behavior, meaning they can interact with a range of substances depending on the surrounding pH, making them useful in applications like drug delivery, water treatment, and biomaterials.
In polymer chemistry, ionic polymerization is a chain-growth polymerization in which active centers are ions or ion pairs. [2] It can be considered as an alternative to radical polymerization, and may refer to anionic polymerization or cationic polymerization. [3] As with radical polymerization, reactions are initiated by a reactive compound.
Living cationic polymerization is a living polymerization technique involving cationic propagating species. [1] [2] It enables the synthesis of very well defined polymers (low molar mass distribution) and of polymers with unusual architecture such as star polymers and block copolymers and living cationic polymerization is therefore as such of commercial and academic interest.
The precursor amino acid lysine contains two amino groups, one at the α-carbon and one at the ε-carbon. Either can be the location of polymerization, resulting in α-polylysine or ε-polylysine. Polylysine is a homopolypeptide belonging to the group of cationic polymers: at pH 7, polylysine contains a positively charged hydrophilic amino group.