Introduction

The high molecular mass compounds or polymers consist of large molecules having molecular masses in the order of 104 to 106 g/mol. The molecules of these compounds are formed by low-molecular units of identical chemical structure, called monomers. Monomers are covalently linked to build up a polymer molecule or a macromolecule, frequently like a chain. Therefore, macromolecules are also termed chain molecules. The combination of a large number of monomers to a polymer molecule generates completely new properties, such as elasticity or the ability to form fibers or films. The large molecules also display flexibility.