Propagation depolymerization

Thus, Equation 27 is in this case a possible distribution function. It is of the type of the Schulz-Flory (25) distribution function. The expressions p and alternating polymerization (chain termination). The validity of the Schulz-Flory distribution function in this example of a polymerization with reversible propagation steps is evident. This type of distribution is always present if the distribution of the chain lengths... 

The addition of radicals and, in particular, propagating radicals, to unsaturated systems is potentially a reversible process (Scheme 4.46). Depropagation is cntropically favored and the extent therefore increases with increasing temperature (Figure 4.4). The temperature at which the rate of propagation and depropagalion become equal is known as the ceiling temperature (rc). Above Tc there will be net depolymerization. 

Heterochain polymers produced by ring-opening polymerization contain the hetero-atoms in the main chain as well as in the monomer and the polymer chain competes with the monomer for the reaction with the propagating species. This competition leads to polymer transfer and back-biting reactions during the polymerization. Heterochain polymers are also susceptible to depolymerization by the ionic active species which are easily formed during processing. 

Several important assumptions are involved in the derivation of the Mayo-Lewis equation and care must be taken when it is applied to ionic copolymerization systems. In ring-opening polymerizations, depolymerization and equilibration of the heterochain copolymers may become important in some cases. In such cases, the copolymer composition is no longer determined by die four propagation reactions. 

Since the depolymerization process is the opposite of the polymerization process, the kinetic treatment of the degradation process is, in general, the opposite of that for polymerization. Additional considerations result from the way in which radicals interact with a polymer chain. In addition to the previously described initiation, propagation, branching and termination steps, and their associated rate constants, the kinetic treatment requires that chain transfer processes be included. To do this, a term is added to the mathematical rate function. This term describes the probability of a transfer event as a function of how likely initiation is. Also, since a polymer s chain length will affect the kinetics of its degradation, a kinetic chain length is also included in the model. 

P n is a reactive molecule of the polymer with n monomer units in the chain, and it is unimportant whether the polymerization mechanism is radical or ionic. The rate constant of the propagation step is kp. Under certain conditions, monomer units can be split off the reactive polymer molecule. Then it is necessary to consider also the depolymerization reaction (with the rate constant kd). 

The reactive position in the chains is written as a dot. The constants kn, kw, k22, and k21 are the rate constants of the propagation steps ke, 22, and k2i are the rate constants of the depolymerization steps. It is assumed that the constants are independent of the last member of the chain. 

Volatiles can result from the initiation event or from a propagation one, e.g., zip depolymerization or simply radical rearrangement. The following equations result ... 

When the substituent R stabilizes radicals as in (A) and (C), chain scission is more likely than termination by coupling. Radicals (C) then propagate the depolymerization process with volatilization of polypropylene and polystyrene at a temperature at which these polymers would not give significant amounts of volatile products when heated alone. Moreover, unsaturated chain ends such as (B) would also initiate the volatilization process because of the thermal instability of carbon-carbon bonds in P position to a double bond (Equation 4.23). 

Reduction of bismuth compounds could take place by reaction with polymer radicals propagating the depolymerization of polypropylene, either by electron transfer or ligand transfer which are typical redox reactions between alkyl radicals and metal compounds 59... 

When the carbonyl group is located on C-2 (see Scheme 6.2 bottom equation) the chain scission will occur on C-4, producing a new chain with a reducing end at C-1. This new chain will behave according to the upper equation in Scheme 6.2, which means that the depolymerization reaction will propagate along the chain and consequently the hot alkali solubility will be high... 

On the initiating particles IM, and IM2, copolymer chains grow from the monomers M, and M2. IM, and IM2 cannot undergo depolymerization and termination and transfer do not occur in the system. The propagation constant, fcp, depends only on the kind of monomer and of the growing end of the macromolecule (irrespective of its length). The depropagation constant is determined by the type of the last two monomers... 

In the polymerization of dialkyldichlorosilanes with sodium in refluxing toluene, propagation and a concurrent back-biting reaction to cyclic material could give the range of products found if the products are kinetically, instead of thermodynamically, determined (12). No evidence for depolymerization has been found for the reaction in toluene solution. 

The ceiling temperature is therefore defined as the temperature at which the rates of propagation and depolymerization are equal. For that reason, is a threshold temperature above which a specific polymer cannot exist. Representative values of for some common monomers are given in Table 14.23. 

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