0000000000451514
AUTHOR
H.c. Dietrich Braun
Synthesis of Macromolecular Substances by Addition Polymerization
As already explained, polymerization reactions can proceed by various mechanisms and can be catalyzed by initiators of different kinds. For addition polymerization of single compounds, initiation of chains may occur via radical, cationic, anionic, or so-called coordinative-acting initiators, but some monomers will not polymerize by more than one mechanism. Both thermodynamic and kinetic factors can be important, depending on the structure of the monomer and its electronic and steric situation. The most important initiators are summarized in Table 3.1.
Synthesis of Macromolecular Substances by Condensation Polymerization and Stepwise Addition Polymerization
Condensation polymerizations (polycondensations) are stepwise reactions between bifunctional or polyfunctional components, with elimination of simple molecules such as water or alcohol and the formation of macromolecular substances. For the preparation of linear condensation polymers from bifunctional compounds (the same considerations apply to polyfunctional compounds which then lead to branched or crosslinked condensation polymers) there are basically two possibilities. One either starts from a monomer which has two unlike groups suitable for polycondensation (AB type), or one starts from two different monomers, each possessing a pair of identical reactive groups that can react with each …