Polymer scientists are continually striving to manufacture products that have the correct characteristics for a given application. By controlling the molecular weight, branching and chemistry, they can tailor a polymer’s properties for a range of applications from containers and fittings to viscosity modifiers and drug delivery vehicles.

The challenge here is that the physical properties and behaviour of polymer products depend strongly on the properties of the polymer molecules themselves. This is also the case for finished products made from or containing polymers.