Copolymers

Copolymers are polymers that are composed of 2 different monomer units. Such bistructural copolymers can be divided into 5 different classes:

• Statistical copolymers: Copolymers where the distribution of the two monomer units in the chain is random (AABABBBABAABABABABBABABAB....).
• Gradient copolymers: Copolymers are in principle similar to statistical copolymers, but with a variable proportion of a monomer in the chain (AAAAAABABBAABABABABABABABABABABBBBB).
• Alternating or alternating copolymers: Copolymers with a regular arrangement of monomers along the chain (ABABABABABABABABABABABABABAB....).
• Block copolymers: copolymers in which two longer sequences or blocks of each monomer follow each other (AAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB...). Depending on the number of blocks these are also called diblock, triblock, ..., copolymers.
• Graft copolymers: Copolymers in which blocks of one monomer are grafted onto the backbone of another monomer.

Copolymers differ from homopolymers, polymers that are built up from only one type of monomer. They have only one repeating unit.