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network polymer
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Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.
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network polymer

chemistry
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Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.
Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.

Network polymers are a type of macromolecule formed when monomers chemically link together to create a large, three-dimensional structure. Unlike linear or branched polymers, network polymers feature numerous cross-links, which are connections between parallel polymer chains. These cross-links form a complex, chemically bonded structure that does not melt when heated; instead, it may decompose.123

Network polymers can be created through both addition and condensation polymerization processes, particularly when monomers with more than two functional groups are involved. The density of the network influences the material's properties. Densely cross-linked polymers, like phenol-formaldehyde resin, are rigid and can be brittle, while those with fewer cross-links may exhibit elastic properties.451

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. chemistry of industrial polymers - Linear, branched, and network
  2. man-made fibre - Linear, branched, and network polymers
  3. cross-link
  4. chemistry of industrial polymers - Step-growth polymerization
  5. chemistry of industrial polymers - Ring-opening metathesis polymerization
  6. polymerization

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