Flory’s theorem

Flory’s theorem states that in a dense, entangled polymer melt (a collection of long-chain molecules), the large-scale shape of a single polymer can be approximated as a Gaussian or random walk. Essentially, despite the complex interactions with other chains, on large scales, a single polymer’s path behaves like a simple, randomly fluctuating chain with predictable statistical properties. This insight helps scientists understand the overall behavior of polymers in melts, simplifying complex interactions to make calculations manageable and aiding in predicting properties like elasticity and viscosity.