Principles of Polymer Chemistry

THE hypothesis that high polymers are composed of covalent structures many times greater in extent than those occurring in simple compounds, and that this feature alone accounts for the characteristic properties which set them apart from other forms of matter, is in large measure responsible for the rapid advances in the chemistry and physics of these substances witnessed in recent years. This elementary concept did not gain widespread acceptance before 1930, and vestiges of contrary views remained for more than a decade thereafter. The older belief that colloidal aggregates, formed from smaller molecules through the action of intermolecular forces of mysterious origin, are responsible for the properties peculiar to high polymers is repudiated by this hypothesis.