REACTION OF POLYMER

REACTION OF POLYMER

Addition Polymerization
(Chain Growth)

Step Growth Polymerization

(Condensation)
 D I F F E R E N CE S B E T W E E N
S T E P - G R O W T H P O LY M E R IZ AT I O N A N D
C H AI N - G R O W T H P OLY M ER I Z AT I O N

Step-growth polymerization Chain-growth polymerization

Growth throughout matrix Growth by addition of monomer only at one end of
chain
Rapid loss of monomer early in the reaction Some monomer remains even at long reaction times

Same mechanism throughout Different mechanisms operate at different stages of

Average molecular weight increases slowly at low
conversion and high extents of reaction are required
to obtain high chain length
Ends remain active (no termination)
No initiator necessary
reaction (i.e. Initiation, propagation and
termination)
Molar mass of backbone chain increases rapidly at
early stage and remains approximately the same
throughout the polymerization
Chains not active after termination
Initiator required
 STEP OF RADICAL CHAIN POLYMERIZATION

Propagatio Terminatio
Initiation
n n
INITIATION

Dissosiation

Assosiation
PROPAGATION
TERMINATION
CHAIN TRANSFER REACTION
IONIC CHAIN POLYMERIZATION

Using catalyst, not initiator

Highest reaction rate
Termination step is just disproportionation
Environment must be pure
Reaction occurs in the cold
 Anionic Polymerization=Living Polymerization

If the starting reagents are pure and the polimerization reactor is purged of all
oxygen and traces of water, polimerization can proceed until all monomer is
consumed.
 CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION

Inisiator required
Minumum two functional groups required
Usually linear
Molecular weight increases slowly at low conversion
High extents of reaction are required to obtain high
chain length
 BULK POLYMERIZATION

• The simplest technique

• It gives the highest-purity polymer

Ingredients : monomer, monomer-soluble initiator, perhaps a chain transfer agent

Advantages Disadvantages
High yield per reactor volume Difficult of removing the lost traces of monomer

Easy polymer recovery Dissipating heat produced during the

polimerization

Final product form

 SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION

• Heat can be removed by conducting the polymerization in an organic solvent or water

• Initiator or monomer must be soluble in solvent

• Solvents have acceptable chain-transfer characteristics

• Solvents have suitable melting or boiling points for the conditions of polymerization

Advantages Disadvantages Ingredients :

Temperature control is easy Small yield per reactor volume
monomer , initiator, solvent
Easy removed Solvent recovery
 SUSPENTION POLYMERIZATION

• Coalescense of sticky droplets is prevented by PVA

• Near the end of polymerization, the particles harder and they can be removed by

filtration, then washing  Ingredients :

Advantages (according to bulk
polymerization)
Forming process not using
Stirring is easy
water-insoluble monomer,
Disadvantages water-insoluble initiator,
sometimes chain transfer agent
Polymer purity is low
suspention medium (water usually)
Reactor capital costs are higher
than for solution polymerization

Separation process is easy

 EMULSION POLYMERIZATION

• Particles are formed monosize with emulsion polymerization

• Polymerization is initiated when the water-soluble radical enters a monomer-containing

micelles.

 Ingredients : water-insoluble monomer,

water-soluble initiator,
chain transfer agent,
dispersing medium (water),
fatty acid,
surfactant such as sodium salt of a long chain