Why does cross-linking a polymer like polyvinyl alcohol or rubber change its properties How would you make a diagram showing the relationships between a monomer a polymer and cross-liked polymer?

Answer 1

Cross-linking a polymer like polyvinyl alcohol or rubber creates covalent bonds between individual polymer chains, which enhances the material's mechanical strength, elasticity, and thermal stability. This process restricts the movement of polymer chains, resulting in a more rigid and durable structure compared to the unlinked form. To illustrate these relationships in a diagram, you could depict a monomer as a single unit, show it joining to form a polymer (a long chain of repeating units), and then represent cross-linking by drawing connections between different polymer chains to highlight the network structure of the cross-linked polymer.