A small region in a
macromolecule from which at least four
chains emanate, and formed by reactions involving sites or groups on existing macromolecules
or by interactions between existing macromolecules.
Notes:
- The small region may be an atom, a group of atoms, or a number of branch points connected
by bonds, groups of atoms, or oligomeric chains.
- In the majority of cases, a crosslink is a covalent structure but the term is also
used to describe sites of weaker chemical interactions, portions of crystallites,
and even physical entanglements.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2287
(Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2298
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
