Chain growth polymerization types

We shall have considerably more to say about this type of kinetic analysis when we discuss chain-growth polymerizations in Chap. 6. 

Our primary purpose in this section is to point out some of the similarities and differences between step-growth and chain-growth polymerizations. In so doing we shall also have the opportunity to indicate some of the different types of chain-growth polymerization systems. 

Step-growth polymerizations can be schematically represented by one of the individual reaction steps VA + B V —> Vab V with the realization that the species so connected can be any molecules containing A and B groups. Chain-growth polymerization, by contrast, requires at least three distinctly different kinds of reactions to describe the mechanism. These three types of reactions will be discussed in the following sections in considerable detail. For now our purpose is to introduce some vocabulary rather than develop any of these beyond mere definitions. The principal steps in the chain growth mechanism are the following ... 

Chain gro tvth polymerization begins when a reactive species and a monomer react to form an active site. There are four principal mechanisms of chain growth polymerization free radical, anionic, cationic, and coordination polymerization. The names of the first three refer to the chemical nature of the active group at the growing end of the monomer. The last type, coordination polymerization, encompasses reactions in which polymers are manufactured in the presence of a catalyst. Coordination polymerization may occur via a free radical, anionic, or cationic reaction. The catalyst acts to increase the speed of the reaction and to provide improved control of the process. 

We encounter homogeneous catalysts in both step-growth and chain-growth polymerization processes. We saw several examples of these types of reactions in Chapter 2. For example, the acid catalyzed polymerization of polyesters occurs via a homogeneous process as do some metallocene catalyzed polymerization of polyolefins. 

In chain growth polymerization reactions the average molecular weight, the molecular weight distribution and in some cases the type of terminal group of the polymer can be varied within certain limits by proper choice of reaction conditions and/or the addition of low-molecular-weight compounds (regula-... 

Step-growth polymerization, 22, 24-25, 23, 84-86, 86,90-92,114-115, 261 compared with chain-growth polymerization, 88-89, 88-89 interfacial polymerization, 91-92 laboratory activities on synthesis of nylon, 228-230 synthesis of polyesters in the melt, 231-233 synthesis of polyurethane foam, 234-237 molar mass and, 86, 86 polycondensation of poly ethylene terephthalate), 90-91 polymers produced by, 86 types of monomers for, 90 Stereochemistry, 28, 37-39,41-42, 70 tacticity, 103-105 Stereoisomers, 41 Stereoregularity, 70 Stiffness, 142, 261 Strain, 142-143, 261 Strength... 

The most common type of chain-growth polymerization is free-radical polymerization. An initiator or a photochemical reaction produces a free radical that attaches itself to a monomer molecule, creating a group with odd-electron configuration (reactive center) at which monomer molecules are added until two such centers react with one another or, more rarely, a center is deactivated by some other process. This is a mechanism much like that of ordinary chain reactions (see Chapter 9 the term "chain" in chain growth refers to that kind of mechanisms, not to the growing molecular chain of repeating units in the polymer.)... 

Chain growth differs from step growth in that it involves initiation and usually also termination reactions in addition to actual growth. This makes its kinetic behavior similar to that of chain reactions (see Chapter 9). However, the chain carriers in chain-growth polymerization need not be free radicals, as they are in ordinary chain reactions. Instead, they could be anions, cations, or metal-complex adducts. While the general structure of kinetics is similar in all types of chain-growth polymerizations, the details differ depending on the nature of the chain carriers. 

The most common type of chain-growth polymerization is free-radical polymerization and will be examined first. 

Chain-growth polymerizations are so called because their mechanisms comprise chains of kinetic events. For successful polymerization, the sequence of reactions must first be initiated by some agent, and monomers must be added consecutively to a growing macromolecule. This chain of events may then be terminated by a reaction that is inherent in the system or by the action of impurities. In any case, we can usefully distinguish between at least three different reaction types in a kinetic polymerization chain. These are initiation, propagation, and termination reactions. (Recall that theie is only one reaction involved in step-growth polymerizations where the monomers add to the end of a macromolecule without the intervention of an active center.)... 

FIGURE 22.1 Relationship of the product number average molecular weight, Mn, to the percent monomer conversion for (a) a step-growth, polycondensation versus (b) a chain growth (vinyl-type) polymerization. 

Biopolymers are polymers formed in nature during the growth cycles of all organisms hence, they are also referred to as natural polymers. The biopolymers of interest in this review are those that serve in nature as either structural or reserve cellular materials. Their syntheses always involve enzyme-catalyzed, chain-growth polymerization reactions of activated monomers, which are generally formed within the cells by complex metabolic processes. The most prevalent structural and reserve biopolymers are the polysaccharides, of which many different types exist, but several other more limited types of polymers exist in nature which serve these roles and are of particular interest for materials applications. The latter include the polyesters and proteins produced by bacteria and the hydrocarbon elastomers produced by plants (e.g. natural rubber). In almost all cases (natural rubber is an exception), all of the repeating units of these biopolymers contain one or more chiral centers and the repeating units are always present in optically pure form that is, biopolymers with asymmetric centers are always 100% isotactic. 

To address polymer network formation from nonlinear chain-growth polymerization (or copolymerization), kinetic methods are more appropriate [23, 75-83], Some of the most successful kinetic models to address this type of system are based on the method of moments [23, 75-77, 79, 80, 82, 84], Some divergence problems at the vicinity of the gelation point are common with the method of moments, although there are practical ways to avoid this situation [80], A more refined kinetic method to address the issue of modeling the dynamics of gelation in... 

What kind of peroxides are available for initiations of free-radical chain-growth polymerizations List and draw structures of various types. 

Use of multifunctional chain-growth, addition-type monomers. Use of such monomers allows simultaneous polymerization and development of a crosslinked network. For example, the copolymerization of small amounts of divinyl benzene with styrene yields a crosslinked polymer ... 

Many alkenes undergo chain-growth polymerization when treated with small amounts of suitable initiators. Table 26-1 shows some of the most common addition polymers, all made from substituted alkenes. The chain-growth mechanism involves addition of the reactive end of the growing chain across the double bond of the monomer. Depending on the monomer and the initiator used, the reactive intermediates may be free radicals, carbocations, or carbanions. Although these three types of chain-growth polymerizations are similar, we consider them individually. 

Consequently, each repeat unit of the polymer contains one double bond. ROMP is, thus, a chain-growth polymerization and belongs - together with vinyl insertion-type, pseudo anionic, and group-transfer polymerizations - to the family of polyinsertions. The basic ROMP process is shown in Scheme 19.1. 

In this type of polymerization the monomer is dispersed in a liquid (usually water) by vigorous stirring and by the addition of stabilizers such as methyl cellulose. A monomer-soluble initiator is added in order to initiate chain-growth polymerization. Reaction heat is efficiently dispersed by the aqueous medium. The polymer is obtained in the form of granules or beads, which may be dried and packed/bagges directly for shipment. Refer to Bulk Polymerization Emulsion Polymerization, and Solution Polymerization. 

Table 1.3 summarizes the different types of polymerizations [8]. Chain-growth polymerization involves chain growth by reaction of an active polymer chain with single monomer molecules. In step-growth polymerization, polymer growth involves reactions between macromolecules. In addition, non-polymeric byproducts may be formed in both types of polymerization. However, condensative chain polymerization is very rare. Table 1.4 summarizes the differences between chain-growth polymerization and step-growth polymerization. 

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