From Random Walks to Rubber: The Physics of Long Polymer Chains
From Random Walks to Rubber: The Physics of Long Polymer Chains
Polymers are macromolecules made up of many repeating units. They are of central importance in chemistry and biology, plastics and DNA being prominent examples. In solution a long, flexible polymer chain continually changes its shape due to thermal agitation, somewhat like a strand of spaghetti in a pot of boiling water. I will discuss some of the basic physical properties of long polymer chains, concentrating on "universal" properties that are independent of chemical details and apply to all polymers.