chemistry

Polymer Science & Plastics

The science of macromolecules — polymerization kinetics, glass transition behavior, viscoelastic stress–strain response, crystallinity in semicrystalline polymers, and rubber elasticity governed by entropic chain networks.

polymerplasticsmacromoleculepolymerizationglass transitionviscoelasticitycrystallinityrubber elasticity

Polymer science studies the synthesis, structure, and properties of macromolecules — long-chain molecules built from repeating monomer units. From polyethylene packaging to Kevlar body armor, polymers are the most versatile class of engineering materials. Their behavior spans the full spectrum from viscous liquids to rigid glasses, governed by chain architecture, molecular weight, and temperature.

These simulations let you explore polymerization reaction kinetics, observe the glass transition that turns rubbery polymers into rigid glasses, probe viscoelastic creep and relaxation, visualize crystallite growth in semicrystalline polymers, and stretch entropic rubber networks — all with real-time interactive controls and physically grounded models.

5 interactive simulations

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Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)

Simulate the glass transition — explore how temperature, cooling rate, plasticizer content, and molecular weight control the shift from rubbery to glassy polymer behavior

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Polymer Crystallinity & Spherulite Growth

Simulate crystallization in semicrystalline polymers — explore how undercooling, nucleation density, and chain regularity control spherulite growth and crystallinity fraction

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Polymerization Kinetics & Chain Growth

Simulate free-radical polymerization — explore how initiator concentration, rate constants, and temperature control molecular weight and conversion over time

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Rubber Elasticity & Entropic Springs

Simulate rubber elasticity — explore how crosslink density, temperature, chain length, and strain produce the unique stress-strain behavior of elastomeric networks

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Viscoelasticity & Stress Relaxation

Simulate viscoelastic behavior — explore how elastic modulus, viscosity, strain rate, and temperature produce creep, relaxation, and hysteresis in polymers