Monomers, Intermediates, and Base Polymers Information
Monomers, intermediates and base polymers are ingredients used in the production of:
- Compounded resins
- Plastics and elastomers
- Paints or organic coatings
- Adhesives and sealants
Monomers, oligomers and other intermediates are the starting materials or precursors used for polymer synthesis. Polymerization combines several monomers to form a raw polymer, polymeric binders, or uncompounded resins:




Features
Base Polymers
Base polymers, copolymers and/or additional monomers are compounded or blended with:
- Fillers
- Extenders
- Fiber reinforcements
- Flame retardants
- UV inhibitors
- Colorants and chemical additives
Base polymers and monomers are blended with fillers, chemical additives, etc. to produce:
- Compounded resins
- Plastics and elastomers
- Paints or organic coatings
- Adhesives and sealants
Formula for compounded resins:

Monomers
A monomer is a small molecule unit that polymerizes or chemically bonds to other monomers to form a polymer, which is a chain or network of 'many mers' or repeating units. Examples of monomers include hydrocarbons such as the alkene and arene series.
Hydrocarbon monomers, such as styrene and ethene, form polymers used in plastics, such as polystyrene and polyethene. Other commercially important monomers include acrylic monomers such as:
- Acrylic acid
- Methyl methacryl
- Atecrylamide
Caprolactum is the precursor used to produce polyamide or nylon resins. Vinyl chloride is the prepolymer used to product polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic resins. Siloxanes are used to produce polysiloxane or silicone polymer resins.
Standards
ASTM D1243 - Standard test method for dilute solution viscosity of vinyl chloride polymers.
ASTM D5575 - Standard classification system for copolymers of vinylidene fluoride (vdf) with other fluorinated monomers.
BRE IP10/03 - Fibre reinforced polymers in construction: durability.
BS ISO 13741-1 - Plastics/rubber - polymer dispersions and rubber latices (natural and synthetic) - determination of residual monomers and other organic components by capillary - column gas chromatography part 1. direct liquid injection method.
References
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