16.7: Copolymers
- Page ID
- 36510
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A polymer whose monomers are all identical is a homopolymer. However, polymers may be synthesised using two or more different monomers, and this produces a copolymer. This is a useful process; for example if two monomers each produce a homopolymer with a desirable property, a copolymer can be produced which combines them.
The properties of the copolymer depend on the monomers and their configuration; these may be divided into four categories: alternating, random, block and graft (illustrated below).
