The physical properties of a polymer, such as its strength and flexibility depend on chain length,

side groups, branching and cross-linking

Chain length in general, the longer the chains the stronger the polymer;
Polar side groups give stronger attraction between polymer chains , making the polymer
stronger;
Straight, unbranched chains can pack together more closely than highly branched chains, giving
polymers that are more crystalline and therefore stronger;
If polymer chains are linked together extensively by covalent bonds, the polymer is harder and
more difficult to melt
Polymers are composed of non-metallic elements, found at the upper right corner of the periodic
table. Carbon is the most common element in polymers. The chemical bonds in polymers are
also different than those found in metals and ceramics

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS

In the amorphous region of the polymer, at lower temperature, the molecules of the polymer are
in, say, frozen state, where the molecules can vibrate slightly but are not able to move
significantly. This state is referred as the glassy state. In this state, the polymer is brittle, hard
and rigid analogous to glass.
The glassy state shows hard, rigid, and brittle nature analogous to a crystalline solid with
molecular disorder as a liquid. Now, when the polymer is heated, the polymer chains are able to
wiggle around each other, and the polymer becomes soft and flexible similar to rubber. This state
is called the rubbery state.

https://www.slideshare.net/ripestone_ho/polymers-and-their-properties
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/mihalick/materials/Chapter5.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0ISwWq8iLg
dE67PpmY5qhvAFeI0isj4T508o2Bee-6O2ffPVYz4lFhmT0
https://prezi.com/mj3aedqj78qs/physical-and-chemical-properties-of-polymers/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781118950623.app1

The physical properties (such as transition temperature, viscosity, etc.) and mechanical properties (such
as strength, stiffness, and toughness) depend on the molecular weight of polymer. The lower the
molecular weight, lower the transition temperature, viscosity, and the mechanical properties. Due to
increased entanglement of chains with increased molecular weight, the polymer gets higher viscosity in
molten state, which makes the processing of polymer difficult.