Free Monomer-CTC Mechanism

Seiner model. These efforts have demonstrated that no adequate composition-conversion data exist in the literature for adequately testing for a combined CTC-free-monomer model copolymerization. This points up the need for much additional work in this area to establish such data if these reactions are to be adequately understood and exploited to make new polymers. 

Using concepts previously discussed in this chapter it is possible to produce new, previously unknown copolymers, with monomers that are easily accessible commercially. Terpolymers with previously unknown properties may be created by terpolymerization of donor-acceptor pairs with neutral monomers, and introduction of reactive groups on these polymers has practical significance. It is obvious that possible applications also include using selected systems or initiators for free-radical, photoreactive, and ionic polymerizations as well as the generation and crosslinking of reactive oligomeric materials. These few mentioned possibilities clearly show that a new field of polymer synthesis reactions is now open, which is of both theoretical and practical interest. 

With the exception of styrene, a-olefins, vinyl acetate, and vinyl ethers, little has been published on the physical and chemical properties of alternating MA copolymers, even though there is a wide variety of alternating MA copolymers referred to in the literature. This situation exists mainly because only copolymers made with styrene, ethylene, vinyl acetate, and methyl vinyl ether ever developed substantial market interest. It is estimated that currently about 19 MM lb of MA is being used for the production of all types of copolymers. 

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