Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: This document defines class names of polymers based on the class names of starting monomers and characteristic features of the chemical constitution of polymer molecules (macromolecules), i.e., class names that have gained general acceptance in the polymer and material literature, science and technology as well as in public. The glossary is divided into three parts: Source-based class names, which identify common classes of starting monomers such as "acrylic", "diene", "phenolic", "vinylic". Class names based on chemical structure, which identify characteristic groups in the main chains (backbones) of the polymer molecules such as (i) inter-unit groups derived from functional groups, e.g., "amide", "ester", "ether"; (ii) a specific group of atoms, e.g., "alkenylene", "siloxane", "sulfone"; (iii) ring structures, e.g., "benzimidazole", "benzoxazole", "quinoxaline". Class names based on molecular architecture, which identify mainly the overall shapes of polymer molecules through the type of their graphical representation such as "linear", "branched", "dendritic", "comb". Each part of the glossary is arranged in a non-hierarchical alphabetical order. Each entry provides: (a) the polymer class name; (b) its definition; (c) specific or generic examples including IUPAC names and a structure or graphical representation; (d) relations to other polymer classes and subclasses; (e) notes on the inclusion or exclusion of borderline cases. An alphabetical index of all class names is included.