copolymer

American  

[koh-pol-uh-mer] / koʊˈpɒl ə mər /

noun

1. a chemical compound of high molecular weight produced by polymerizing two or more different monomers together.

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copolymer British  

/ kəʊˈpɒlɪmə /

noun

1. a chemical compound of high molecular weight formed by uniting the molecules of two or more different compounds (monomers) Compare polymer oligomer

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copolymer Scientific  

/ kō-pŏl′ə-mər /

1. A polymer of two or more different monomers. The synthetic rubber used to make tire treads and shoe soles, for example, is a copolymer made of the monomers butadiene and styrene.

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Etymology

Origin of copolymer

First recorded in 1935–40; co- + polymer

Example Sentences

This became possible through the use of random copolymers of polyethylene glycol, which adsorbs water well, and polypropylene glycol, which adsorbs water slightly less well.

From Science Daily

Block copolymers, composed of two or more different monomers covalently bonded in a block shape, were strategically employed to induce phase separation using a non-mixing liquid droplet.

From Science Daily

Because the copolymer has two units -- one that is electroactive and one which is the original thermo-responsive unit -- there are now two pathways available to control solvation.

From Science Daily

In both dispersions, the base polymer was a copolymer composed of the inexpensive, commercially available components styrene and butyl acrylate.

From Science Daily

The monomer sequence plays a critical role in a material's properties, but scientists until now have lacked a method for sequencing synthetic copolymers.

From Science Daily