List of keywords for polymer science (IUPAC Technical Report)

1 Introduction

Internet searches of scientific literature return results based mainly on electronic engines, which work to identify relevant keywords. These keywords are supplied by the authors of publications. The selection of keywords that best describe the content of a publication is therefore very important. Some publishers of journals related to polymer science provide a recommended list of keywords from which authors must select the most relevant terms. Wiley, for example does this [1]. Some publishers, on the other hand, give authors license to provide their own keywords, while others provide a non-binding list of keywords, i.e. authors may use it or ignore it as they prefer. In addition to these variations, different authors place a different emphasis on the selection of keywords. Some take it as a serious exercise and strive to provide keywords that genuinely encapsulate the contents of their article, while others regard keywords as a nuisance and do not particularly care if they are a “low precision” guide to the content of their publication. Furthermore, as science is a dynamic discipline, newly discovered phenomena are constantly giving rise to new terms that may not be included in existing lists of keywords. All these factors introduce a degree of ambiguity which, in turn, makes searching the literature by keywords less accurate.

For these reasons it is worthwhile to collect the most salient terms from all areas of polymer science, i.e. polymer chemistry, polymer physics, polymer technology, and polymer properties, and then to assemble these terms into a representative list that may serve as an IUPAC-recommended list of keywords for polymer science. This is the aim of this paper. Ideally, all polymer-related journals would employ this list and would insist on authors selecting from it, except where terms are newly coined, in which event – if prudent – they would be added to the list, making it an evolving document. This would ultimately result in a streamlined search tool: faster, more comprehensive, and more accurate.

The following list was created by a task-group of the IUPAC Polymer Division, which collected the most relevant terms, identified on the basis of:

1. terms from IUPAC Polymer Division recommendations given in the IUPAC Compendium of Polymer Terminology and Nomenclature (the “Purple Book”) [2];

2. lists of keywords for Wiley journals [1] (J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. [3], J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. [4], J. Appl. Polym. Sci. [5], Polym. Int. [6], Macromol. Chem. Phys. [7]);

3. titles of chapters and sections in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology [8], Comprehensive Polymer Science [9], Ulmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry [10];

4. terms that appeared as keywords in the most cited (usually more than 500 citations) polymer-related papers (on the basis of ISI Web of Knowledge [11]);

5. terms that appeared as keywords in publications in Prog. Polym. Sci. [12] in the period 2008–2015; and

6. terms from the Polymer Science Dictionary [13].

The list was divided into six categories and entries were arranged alphabetically within them, with categories for keywords related to: polymer synthesis and polymerization mechanisms; reactions of polymers; polymer class names and common polymer names; polymer additives and composites; polymer structure, processing, properties and applications; and polymer characterization methods. In addition, the complete alphabetical list is included at the end of this paper. Where appropriate, authors may choose to insert their own polymer-specific keyword. This should be done in accord with recent IUPAC nomenclature recommendations [14, 15].

The generation of new keywords was avoided where possible in order to avoid confusion; however, where new keywords are required, it is recommended that they conform to definitions given in the IUPAC Compendium of Polymer Terminology and Nomenclature (the “Purple Book”). The spellings of American English are recommended as these are more commonly used, and for searching efficiency it is obviously preferable if workers adhere to the forms of a particular variant of English. It is also recommended that the singular form be used.

2 List of keywords arranged into categories

3 Alphabetical list of keywords

ablation

acid neutralizer

acrylic polymer

activated monomer

activation energy

activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET-ATRP)

activator regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET-ATRP)

acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET)

additive

adhesion

adhesion promotor

adhesive

adsorbent

adsorption

aggregate

aggregation

aging

aliphatic poliester

alpha transition

alternating copolymer

alumina

aminolysis

amorphous polymer

amphiphilic polymer

anionic polymerization

anionic ring-opening polymerization

anisotropy

annealing

anti-blocking agent

anti-fogging agent

anti-microbial additive

antioxidant

antistatic agent

aramid

aromatic polyester

aspect ratio

association

asymmetric polymerization

atactic

atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)

atomic force microscopy (AFM)

barrier property

beta transition

bioadhesion

biocompatible polymer

biodegradable polymer

biodegradation

biological application

biomaterial

biomedical application

biomedical polymer

biomimetic polymer

biopolymer

birefringence

blend

block copolymer

blowing agent

branched polymer

branching

brittle

brush

bulk polymerization

bulk-heterojunction (BHJ)

calorimetry

capillary electrophoresis

carbohydrate

carbon black

carbon fiber

carbon nanotube

casting

catalyst

catalyst deactivator

catalyst quencher

catalyst transfer polymerization (CTP)

cationic polymerization

cationic ring-opening polymerization

cellular

cellulose

chain polymerization

chain scission

chain transfer

charge transfer

charge transport

chemical corrosion

chemical modification

chiral

chitin

chitosan

chromatography

circular dichroism (CD)

clay

click reaction

cloud point determination

coating

cobalt-mediated radical polymerization

coil

collagen

colloid

colorant

comb

compatibility

compatibilizer

composite

compost

composting

compression

computer simulation

condensative chain polymerization (CCP)

conducting polymer

conductometry

configuration

conformation

conjugate

conjugated polymer

conjugation

controlled anionic polymerization

controlled cationic polymerization

controlled ionic polymerization

controlled polymerization

controlled radical polymerization (CRP)

controlled release

convergent approach

coordination polymer

coordination polymerization

coordination ring-opening polymerization

copolymer

copolymerization

core-shell

coupling

coupling agent

crazing

creep

critical solution temperature

crosslink

crosslinking

crosslinking agent

crystal structure

crystallinity

crystallization

curing

cyclic

cyclic voltammetry (CV)

cyclization

cyclodextrin

damping

defoaming agent

degenerative chain transfer radical polymerization

degradation

degradation promoter

degree of polymerization

degree of swelling

dendrimer

dendritic polymer

density

depolymerization

dextran

diblock copolymer

dielectric property

dielectric spectroscopy

differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

differential thermal analysis (DTA)

diffusion

dilatometry

dispersing agent

dispersion polymerization

dispersity

divergent approach

drug

drug delivery

ductility

durability

dye

dynamic light scattering (DLS)

dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA)

dynamic-mechanical property

dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA)

elasticity

elasticity modulus

elastomer

electrical property

electroactive polymer

electrochemical polymerization

electron diffraction

electron paramagnetic spin resonance (EPR or ESR)

electrophoresis

electrospinning

electrospray ionization (ESI)

elongation

emulsion polymerization

encapsulation

engineering polymer

entanglements

environmental corrosion

enzymatic degradation

enzymatic polymerization

epoxy

equilibrium polymerization

etching

excluded volume

extended chain

extrusion

fatigue

ferroelectric

fiber

field-flow fractionation (FFF)

filler

film

fire (flame) retardancy

flame retardant

flexural strength

flocculation

flow

fluorescence

fluorescent polymer

fluoropolymer

foam

foaming agent

fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy

fractionation

fracture

fracture analysis

free volume

friction

fuel cell

fullerene

functional polymer

functionality

functionalization

gas permeation

gas-phase polymerization

gel (polymer gel)

gel effect

gel permeation chromatography (GPC)

gel point

gelatin

gelation

glass fiber

glass transition

glass transition temperature

graft

grafting

grafting from

grafting through

grafting to

graphene

graphene oxide

group transfer polymerization (GTP)

hardness

heat of polymerization

heat stabilizer

heterogeneous polymerization

high-performance

homogeneous polymerization

hybrid nanocomposite

hybrid polymeric material

hydrodynamic radius

hydrogel

hydrolysis

hydrophile

hydrophilic polymer

hydrophilicity

hydrophobe

hydrophobic polymer

hydrophobicity

hyperbranched

hysteresis

impact modifier

impact resistance

impact resistant

impact strength

impact test

implant

implant testing

inclusion

infrared (IR) spectroscopy

inhibitor

initiation of polymerization

injectable hydrogel

injection molding

inorganic polymer

intercalation

interface

interfacial polymerization

intermolecular cohesion

interpenetrating network

interphase

iodine-transfer polymerization (ITP)

ion-exchange polymer

ionic conductivity

ionic liquid

ionic polymer

ionic polymerization

ionomer

irradiation

isotactic

kinetics

Kumada catalyst transfer polymerization (KCTP)

ladder

lamellar

Langmuir-Blodgett film

latex

lattice

layer

layer growth

ligand

light scattering

light-emitting property

light stabilizer

liquid crystal polymer

liquid-crystalline polymer

lithography

living anionic polymerization

living cationic polymerization

living coordination polymerization

living ionic polymerization

living polymer

living polymerization

loss modulus

lower critical solution temperature (LCST)

lubricant

luminescence

macrocycle

macroinitiator

macromonomer

magnetic

mass spectrometry

matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)

mechanical property

mechanism

melt

membrane

metabolization

metal-containing

metal-free catalyst

metal-organic

metallocene catalyst

metallopolymer

metathesis polymerization

micelle

microemulsion polymerization

microindentation

microstructure

miniemulsion polymerization

miscibility

mixed binary brush

mixing

modeling

modification

modulus

molar mass

molar mass dispersity

molar mass distribution

mold release agent

molding

molecular dynamics

molecular recognition

molecularly imprinted polymer

monolayer

Monte Carlo simulation

montmorillonite

morphology

multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS)

multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

nanocomposite

nanofiber

nanofiller

nanofoam

nanogel

nanoindentation

nanoparticle

nanostructure

nanotube

natural rubber

near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy

near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy

network

neutron scattering

nitroxide mediated polymerization

non-linear optical property

nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

nucleation

nucleation agent

nylon

olefin polymerization catalyst

oligomer

optical anisotropy

optical brightener

optical property

optical rotation

organic electronics

organic field-effect transistor (OFET)

organic light-emitting diode (OLED)

organic photovoltaics (OPVs)

organic-inorganic hybrid material

organobismuthine-mediated radical polymerization (BIRP)

organometallic-mediated radical polymerization (OMRP)

organostibane-mediated radical polymerization (SBRP)

organotellurium-mediated radical polymerization (TERP)

orientation

osmometry

oxidation

oxidative polymerization

π-conjugated polymer

PEGylation

permanent network

phase behavior

phase separation

phase transition

phosphorescence

photoactive polymer

photodegradation

photoinitiated polymerization

photonic crystal

photopolymerization

photoresist

photosensitive polymer

photovoltaic application

piezoelectric

pigment

plasma polymerization

plasticizer

polyacetylene

polyacrylamide

polarimetry

polarization

polyacrylate

polyacrylonitrile

polyaddition

polyamide

polyaniline

polyanion

polycarbonate

polycation

polycondensation

polyelectrolyte

polyester

poly(ester amide)

polyether

polyethylene

poly(oxirane)

polyfluorene

polyhydroxyalkanoate

polyimide

polyisobutylene

polylactide

polymer brush

polymer electrolyte

polymer film

polymer light emitting diode (PLED)

polymer melt

polymer solar cell

polymeric membrane

polymeric microsphere

polymeric scaffold

polymersome

polymethacrylate

polyolefin

polyphenylene

poly(phenylene diamine)

poly(phenylene vinylene)

polyphosphazene

polypropylene

polypyrrole

polyrotaxane

polysaccharide

polysilane

polysiloxane

polystyrene

polythiophene

polyurea

polyurethane

poly(vinyl alcohol)

poly(vinyl chloride)

poly(vinyl ether)

porosimetry

post-metallocene catalyst

post-polymerization funcrionalization

potentiometry

preceramic polymer

precipitation polymerization

prepolymer

pressure-sensitive adhesive

processing

processing aid

propagation

protein

pseudo-ionic polymerization

pyrolysis

quantum chemistry

radiation polymerization

radical polymerization

radius of gyration

Raman spectroscopy

random copolymer

rate of polymerization

reactive extrusion

reactive injection molding

reactive processing

reactivity ratio (in copolymerization)

recycling

refractive index

reinforcement

reinforced polymer

relaxation

renewable resource

reptation

responsive polymer

reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (reverse ATRP)

reverse iodine-transfer polymerization (RITP)

reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT)

reversible addition-fragmentation radical polymerization (RAFRP)

reversible deactivation anionic polymerization (RDAP)

reversible deactivation cationic polymerization (RDCP)

reversible deactivation coordination polymerization (RDCP)

reversible deactivation ionic polymerization (RDIP)

reversible deactivation polymerization (RDP)

reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP)

reversible polymerization

rheology

rigid

ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)

ring-opening polymerization

rubber

rubber elasticity

scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

scavenger

scratch resistance

segmented copolymer

self-assembly

semiconducting polymer

semicrystalline

sequential polymerization

shape memory polymer

shear

silicon polymer

silsesquioxane

size exclusion chromatography (SEC)

small angle neutron scattering (SANS)

small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)

smart polymer

sol-gel transition

solid-phase synthesis

solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SS-NMR)

solid-state polymerization

solubility

solution polymerization

spectropolarimetry

spin coating

stabilization

stabilizer

stable radical mediated polymerization

star polymer

starch

static light scattering (SLS)

statistical copolymer

stereospecific polymerization

stiffness

storage modulus

strain

strain recovery

stress

stress-strain

superabsorbent polymer

supramolecular polymer

surface-initiated polymerization

surface modification

surface property

surfactant

suspension polymerization

swelling

swelling pressure

telomerization

template

template polymerization

tensile strength

termination

test method

thermal analysis

thermal degradation

thermal property

thermal stability

thermal transition

thermomechanical property

thermo-responsiveness

thermodynamics

thermogravimetric analysis

thermoplastic elastomer

thermoset

thermosetting polymer

theta condition

thiocarbonyl-mediated radical polymerization (TMRP)

tissue engineering

tomography

toughness

transition-metal-mediated radical polymerization

transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM)

transport property

ultracentrifugation

unsaturated polyester

upper critical solution temperature (UCST)

UV spectroscopy

vesicle

viscoelastic property

viscometry

viscosity

vulcanization

water soluble polymer

wear

weathering

wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS)

X-ray diffraction (XRD)

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

X-ray spectroscopy

yield strength (yielding)

Young modulus

Ziegler-Natta catalyst

Ziegler-Natta polymerization

Membership of sponsoring bodies

Membership of the IUPAC Polymer Division Committee for the period 2016–2017 was as follows:

President: G. T. Russell (New Zealand); Vice President: C. K. Luscombe (USA); Secretary: M. G. Walter (USA); Past President: M. Buback (Germany); Titular Members: S. Beuermann (Germany); J. He (China); I. Lacík (Slovakia); M. Sawamoto (Japan); N. Stingelin (UK); Y. Yagci (Turkey); Associate Members: R. C. Hiorns (France); M. Hess (Germany); R. Hutchinson (Canada); G. Moad (Australia); R. Advincula (USA); D. Auhl (Netherlands); National Representatives: R. Adhikari (Nepal); M. C. H. Chan (Malaysia); C. G. dos Santos (Brazil); V. P. Hoven (Thailand); C.-S. Hsu (Taipei, China); R. G. Jones (UK); D. S. Lee (Korea); M. Malinconico (Italy); O. Philippova (Russia); J. Vohlídal (Czech Republic)

Membership of the Subcommittee on Polymer Terminology during the preparation of this document (2010–2017) was as follows: Chair: R. G. Jones (UK), 2006–2013; R. C. Hiorns (France), from 2014; Secretary: R. C. Hiorns (France), 2010–2013; C. K. Luscombe (USA), 2014–2015; P. D. Topham (UK), from 2016; Members: R. Adhikari (Nepal); G. Allegra (Italy); M. Barón (Argentina); R. Boucher (UK); P. Carbone (UK); M. C. H. Chan (Malaysia); T. Chang (Korea); J. Chen (USA); C. Fellows (Australia); A. Fradet (France); K. Hatada (Japan); J. He (China); K.-H. Hellwich (Germany); M. Hess (Germany); R. C. Hiorns (France); P. Hodge (UK); K. Horie ^[‡] (Japan); A. D. Jenkins (UK); J.-I. Jin (Korea); R. G. Jones (UK); J. Kahovec (Czech Republic); T. Kitayama (Japan); P. Kratochvíl (Czech Republic); P. Kubisa (Poland); C. K. Luscombe (USA); S. V. Meille (Italy); I. Meisel (Germany); W. V. Metanomski^‡ (USA); I. Mita^‡ (Japan); G. Moad (Australia); W. Mormann (Germany); N. Nakabayashi (Japan); T. Nakano (Japan), C. K. Ober (USA); S. Penczek (Poland); O. Philippova (Russia); M. D. Purbrick (UK); G. Raos (Italy); L. P. Rebelo (Portugal); M. Rinaudo (France); G. T. Russell (New Zealand); C. G. dos Santos (Brazil); I. Schopov (Bulgaria); C. Scholz (USA); F. Schué^‡ (France); V. P. Shibaev (Russia); S. Słomkowski (Poland); D. W. Smith (USA), R. F. T. Stepto^‡ (UK); N. Stingelin (UK); D. Tabak (Brazil); P. Theato (Germany); P. D. Topham (UK); J.-P. Vairon (France); M. Vert (France); J. Vohlídal (Czech Republic); M. G. Walter (USA); E. S. Wilks (USA); W. J. Work (USA).