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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Radical polymerization</span></span>
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</style><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks hlist"><tbody><tr><th class="sidebar-title">Polymer science</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">Properties</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Polymer_architecture" title="Polymer architecture">Architecture</a></li>
<li><a href="Tacticity" title="Tacticity">Tacticity</a></li>
<li><a href="Polymer#Polymer_morphology" title="Polymer">Morphology</a></li>
<li><a href="Polymer_degradation" title="Polymer degradation">Degradation</a></li>
<li><a href="Polymer#Phase_behavior" title="Polymer">Phase behavior</a>
<ul><li><a href="Mark%E2%80%93Houwink_equation" title="Mark–Houwink equation">Mark–Houwink theory</a></li>
<li><a href="Upper_critical_solution_temperature" title="Upper critical solution temperature">UCST</a></li>
<li><a href="Lower_critical_solution_temperature" title="Lower critical solution temperature">LCST</a></li>
<li><a href="Flory%E2%80%93Huggins_solution_theory" title="Flory–Huggins solution theory">Flory–Huggins solution theory</a></li>
<li><a href="Coil%E2%80%93globule_transition" title="Coil–globule transition">Coil–globule transition</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Polymerization" title="Polymerization">Synthesis</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<dl><dt>Chain polymerization</dt>
<dd></dd>
<dd><a href="Reversible_deactivation_radical_polymerization" class="mw-redirect" title="Reversible deactivation radical polymerization">RDRP</a>]
<dl><dd><a href="ATRP_(chemistry)" class="mw-redirect" title="ATRP (chemistry)">ATRP</a></dd>
<dd><a href="RAFT" class="mw-redirect" title="RAFT">RAFT</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Nitroxide-mediated_radical_polymerization" title="Nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization">Nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization</a></dd></dl></dd></dl>
<dl><dt><a href="Step_polymerization" class="mw-redirect" title="Step polymerization">Step polymerization</a></dt>
<dd><a href="Condensation_polymer" title="Condensation polymer">Condensation polymerization</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Addition_polymerization" class="mw-redirect" title="Addition polymerization">Addition polymerization</a></dd></dl></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Polymer_classes_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Polymer classes (disambiguation)">Classification</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<dl><dt>Functional type</dt>
<dd><a href="Polyolefin" title="Polyolefin">Polyolefin</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Polyethylene" title="Polyethylene">Polyethylene</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polypropylene" title="Polypropylene">Polypropylene</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polyisobutylene" class="mw-redirect" title="Polyisobutylene">Polyisobutylene</a></dd></dl></dd>
<dd><a href="Polyurethane" title="Polyurethane">Polyurethane</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polyester" title="Polyester">Polyester</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polycarbonate" title="Polycarbonate">Polycarbonate</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Vinyl_polymer" title="Vinyl polymer">Vinyl polymers</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Polyvinyl_chloride" title="Polyvinyl chloride">PVC</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polyvinyl_alcohol" title="Polyvinyl alcohol">PVA</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polyvinyl_acetate" title="Polyvinyl acetate">PVAc</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Polystyrene" title="Polystyrene">Polystyrene</a></dd></dl></dd></dl>
<dl><dt>Structure</dt>
<dd><a href="Homopolymer" class="mw-redirect" title="Homopolymer">Homopolymer</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Copolymer" title="Copolymer">Copolymer</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Gels" class="mw-redirect" title="Gels">Gels</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Hydrogels" class="mw-redirect" title="Hydrogels">Hydrogels</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Self-healing_hydrogels" title="Self-healing hydrogels">Self-healing hydrogels</a></dd></dl></dd></dl></dd></dl></div></div></td>
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<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Polymer_characterization" title="Polymer characterization">Characterization</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Gel_permeation_chromatography" title="Gel permeation chromatography">GPC</a></li>
<li><a href="Infrared_spectroscopy" title="Infrared spectroscopy">FTIR</a></li>
<li><a href="X-ray_crystallography" title="X-ray crystallography">X-ray crystallography</a></li>
<li><a href="Differential_scanning_calorimetry" title="Differential scanning calorimetry">DSC</a></li>
<li><a href="NMR_spectroscopy" class="mw-redirect" title="NMR spectroscopy">NMR</a></li>
<li><a href="Thermogravimetric_analysis" title="Thermogravimetric analysis">TGA</a></li>
<li><a href="Dynamic_mechanical_analysis" title="Dynamic mechanical analysis">DMA</a></li>
<li><a href="Rheology" title="Rheology">Rheology</a>
<ul><li><a href="Rheometer" title="Rheometer">Rheometry</a></li>
<li><a href="Viscometer" title="Viscometer">Viscometry</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">Scientists</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Paul_Flory" title="Paul Flory">Flory</a></li>
<li><a href="Alan_J._Heeger" title="Alan J. Heeger">Heeger</a></li>
<li><a href="Alan_MacDiarmid" title="Alan MacDiarmid">MacDiarmid</a></li>
<li><a href="Hideki_Shirakawa" title="Hideki Shirakawa">Shirakawa</a></li>
<li><a href="Giulio_Natta" title="Giulio Natta">Natta</a></li>
<li><a href="Sam_Edwards_(physicist)" title="Sam Edwards (physicist)"> Edwards</a></li>
<li><a href="Pierre-Gilles_de_Gennes" title="Pierre-Gilles de Gennes">de Gennes</a></li>
<li><a href="Karl_Ziegler" title="Karl Ziegler">Ziegler</a></li>
<li><a href="Hermann_Staudinger" title="Hermann Staudinger">Staudinger</a></li>
<li><a href="Charles_Goodyear" title="Charles Goodyear">Goodyear</a></li>
<li><a href="Leo_Baekeland" title="Leo Baekeland">Baekeland</a></li>
<li><a href="Nathaniel_Hayward" title="Nathaniel Hayward">Hayward</a></li>
<li><a href="Henri_Braconnot" title="Henri Braconnot">Braconnot</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">Applications</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<dl><dt>Industrial production</dt>
<dd><a href="Plastics_extrusion" class="mw-redirect" title="Plastics extrusion">Extrusion</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Blow_molding" title="Blow molding">Blow molding</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Extrusion_coating" title="Extrusion coating">Applied coatings</a></dd></dl></dd>
<dd><a href="Industrial_coating" class="mw-redirect" title="Industrial coating">Protective Coatings</a></dd>
<dd><a href="3D_printing" title="3D printing">3D printing</a></dd>
<dt><a href="Plastics" class="mw-redirect" title="Plastics">Consumer products</a></dt>
<dd><a href="Tire" title="Tire">Tires</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Whitewall_tires" class="mw-redirect" title="Whitewall tires">Whitewalls</a></dd></dl></dd>
<dd><a href="Cookware_and_bakeware" title="Cookware and bakeware">Cookware and bakeware</a>
<dl><dd><a href="Bakelite" title="Bakelite">Bakelite</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Foam_food_container" title="Foam food container">Food Container</a></dd></dl></dd>
<dd><a href="Vinyl_record" class="mw-redirect" title="Vinyl record">Vinyl record</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Kevlar" title="Kevlar">Kevlar</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Plastic_bottle" title="Plastic bottle">Plastic bottle</a></dd>
<dd><a href="Plastic_bag" title="Plastic bag">Plastic bag</a></dd></dl></div></div></td>
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<p>In <a href="Polymer_chemistry" title="Polymer chemistry">polymer chemistry</a>, <b>radical polymerization</b> (<b>RP</b>) is a method of <a href="Polymerization" title="Polymerization">polymerization</a> by which a <a href="Polymer" title="Polymer">polymer</a> forms by the successive addition of a <a href="Free-radical" class="mw-redirect" title="Free-radical">radical</a> to building blocks (<a href="Repeat_unit" title="Repeat unit">repeat units</a>). Radicals can be formed by a number of different mechanisms, usually involving separate <a href="Radical_initiator" title="Radical initiator">initiator molecules</a>. Following its generation, the initiating radical adds (nonradical) <a href="Monomer" title="Monomer">monomer</a> units, thereby growing the polymer chain.
</p><p>Radical polymerization is a key synthesis route for obtaining a wide variety of different polymers and materials <a href="Composite_material" title="Composite material">composites</a>. The relatively non-specific nature of radical chemical interactions makes this one of the most versatile forms of polymerization available and allows facile reactions of polymeric radical chain ends and other chemicals or substrates. In 2001, 40 billion of the 110 billion pounds of polymers produced in the United States were produced by radical polymerization.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<p>Radical polymerization is a type of <a href="Chain-growth_polymerization" title="Chain-growth polymerization">chain polymerization</a>, along with <a href="Anionic_addition_polymerization" title="Anionic addition polymerization">anionic</a>, <a href="Cationic_polymerization" title="Cationic polymerization">cationic</a> and <a href="Coordination_polymerization" title="Coordination polymerization">coordination polymerization</a>.
</p><p><br>
</p>
<meta property="mw:PageProp/toc">
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Initiation">Initiation</h2></div>
<p>Initiation is the first step of the <a href="Polymerization" title="Polymerization">polymerization</a> process. During initiation, an active center is created from which a polymer chain is generated. Not all monomers are susceptible to all types of initiators. Radical initiation works best on the carbon–carbon double bond of <a href="Vinyl_group" title="Vinyl group">vinyl</a> monomers and the carbon–oxygen double bond in <a href="Aldehydes" class="mw-redirect" title="Aldehydes">aldehydes</a> and <a href="Ketones" class="mw-redirect" title="Ketones">ketones</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Initiation has two steps. In the first step, one or two <a href="Radical_(chemistry)" title="Radical (chemistry)">radicals</a> are created from the initiating molecules. In the second step, radicals are transferred from the initiator molecules to the monomer units present. Several choices are available for these initiators.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Types_of_initiation_and_the_initiators">Types of initiation and the initiators</h3></div>
<dl><dt><a href="Thermal_decomposition" title="Thermal decomposition">Thermal decomposition</a></dt>
<dd>The initiator is heated until a bond is <a href="Homolysis_(chemistry)" title="Homolysis (chemistry)">homolytically</a> cleaved, producing two radicals (Figure 1). This method is used most often with organic <a href="Peroxide" title="Peroxide">peroxides</a> or <a href="Azo_compounds" class="mw-redirect" title="Azo compounds">azo compounds</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </dd>
<dt><a href="Photolysis" class="mw-redirect" title="Photolysis">Photolysis</a></dt>
<dd>Radiation cleaves a bond homolytically, producing two radicals (Figure 2). This method is used most often with metal iodides, metal alkyls, and azo compounds.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Photoinitiation can also occur by bi-molecular H abstraction when the radical is in its lowest triplet excited state.<sup id="cite_ref-h1985_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-h1985-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An acceptable photoinitiator system should fulfill the following requirements:<sup id="cite_ref-h1985_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-h1985-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl>
<dl><dt><ul><li>High <a href="Absorbance" title="Absorbance">absorptivity</a> in the 300–400 nm range.</li>
<li>Efficient generation of radicals capable of attacking the <a href="Alkene" title="Alkene">alkene</a> double bond of <a href="Vinyl_group" title="Vinyl group">vinyl</a> monomers.</li>
<li>Adequate solubility in the binder system (<a href="Prepolymer" title="Prepolymer">prepolymer</a> + monomer).</li>
<li>Should not impart yellowing or unpleasant odors to the cured material.</li>
<li>The photoinitiator and any byproducts resulting from its use should be non-toxic.</li></ul></dt></dl>
<dl><dt><a href="Redox" title="Redox">Redox</a> reactions</dt>
<dd>Reduction of hydrogen peroxide or an alkyl hydrogen peroxide by iron (Figure 3).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Other reductants such as Cr<sup>2+</sup>, V<sup>2+</sup>, Ti<sup>3+</sup>, Co<sup>2+</sup>, and Cu<sup>+</sup> can be employed in place of ferrous ion in many instances.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl>
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<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\ce {{H2O2}+Fe^{2+}->{Fe^{3+}}+{HO^{-}}+HO^{.}}}}</annotation>
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</math></span><img src="./f8bad2bf3f4456f249f85e09ac867f9dd556d4b8.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:39.12ex; height:3.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\ce {{H2O2}+Fe^{2+}->{Fe^{3+}}+{HO^{-}}+HO^{.}}}}" loading="lazy"></span></div><div class="thumbcaption"><i>Figure 3</i>: Redox reaction of hydrogen peroxide and iron.</div></div></div></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<dl><dt><a href="Persulfate" title="Persulfate">Persulfates</a></dt>
<dd>The dissociation of a persulfate in the aqueous phase (Figure 4). This method is useful in <a href="Emulsion_polymerization" title="Emulsion polymerization">emulsion polymerizations</a>, in which the radical diffuses into a <a href="Hydrophobic" class="mw-redirect" title="Hydrophobic">hydrophobic</a> monomer-containing droplet.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </dd>
<dt><a href="Ionizing_radiation" title="Ionizing radiation">Ionizing radiation</a></dt>
<dd><a href="Alpha_Particle" class="mw-redirect" title="Alpha Particle">α-</a>, <a href="Beta_Particle" class="mw-redirect" title="Beta Particle">β-</a>, <a href="Gamma_Ray" class="mw-redirect" title="Gamma Ray">γ-</a>, or <a href="X-ray" title="X-ray">x-rays</a> cause ejection of an electron from the initiating species, followed by dissociation and <a href="Electron_capture" title="Electron capture">electron capture</a> to produce a radical (Figure 5).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </dd>
<dt><a href="Electrochemistry" title="Electrochemistry">Electrochemical</a></dt>
<dd><a href="Electrolysis" title="Electrolysis">Electrolysis</a> of a solution containing both monomer and <a href="Electrolyte" title="Electrolyte">electrolyte</a>. A monomer molecule will receive an electron at the <a href="Cathode" title="Cathode">cathode</a> to become a radical anion, and a monomer molecule will give up an electron at the <a href="Anode" title="Anode">anode</a> to form a radical cation (Figure 6). The radical ions then initiate free radical (and/or ionic) polymerization. This type of initiation is especially useful for coating metal surfaces with polymer films.<sup id="cite_ref-s1999_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-s1999-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </dd>
<dt><a href="Plasma_(physics)" title="Plasma (physics)">Plasma</a></dt>
<dd>A gaseous monomer is placed in an electric discharge at low pressures under conditions where a plasma (ionized gaseous molecules) is created. In some cases, the system is heated and/or placed in a <a href="Radiofrequency" class="mw-redirect" title="Radiofrequency">radiofrequency</a> field to assist in creating the plasma.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd>
<dt><a href="Sonication" title="Sonication">Sonication</a></dt>
<dd>High-intensity ultrasound at frequencies beyond the range of human hearing (16 kHz) can be applied to a monomer. Initiation results from the effects of <a href="Cavitation" title="Cavitation">cavitation</a> (the formation and collapse of cavities in the liquid). The collapse of the cavities generates very high local temperatures and pressures. This results in the formation of excited electronic states, which in turn lead to bond breakage and radical formation.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd>
<dt>Ternary initiators</dt>
<dd>A <a href="Ternary_compound" title="Ternary compound">ternary</a> initiator is the combination of several types of initiators into one initiating system. The types of initiators are chosen based on the properties they are known to induce in the polymers they produce. For example, poly(methyl methacrylate) has been synthesized by the ternary system benzoyl peroxide and 3,6-bis(<i>o</i>-carboxybenzoyl)-<i>N</i>-isopropylcarbazole and di-η<sup>5</sup>-indenylzirconium dichloride (Figure 7).<sup id="cite_ref-ipkfd2006_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ipkfd2006-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ipfm2006_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ipfm2006-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>This type of initiating system contains a <a href="Metallocene" title="Metallocene">metallocene</a>, an <a href="Radical_initiator" title="Radical initiator">initiator</a>, and a <a href="Aromaticity" title="Aromaticity">heteroaromatic</a> <a href="Ketone" title="Ketone">diketo</a> <a href="Carboxylic_acid" title="Carboxylic acid">carboxylic acid</a>. Metallocenes in combination with initiators accelerate polymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) and produce a polymer with a narrower molecular weight distribution. The example shown here consists of indenylzirconium (a metallocene) and benzoyl peroxide (an initiator). Also, initiating systems containing heteroaromatic diketo carboxylic acids, such as 3,6-bis(<i>o</i>-carboxybenzoyl)-<i>N</i>-isopropylcarbazole in this example, are known to catalyze the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide. Initiating systems with this particular heteroaromatic diket carboxylic acid are also known to have effects on the <a href="Microstructure" title="Microstructure">microstructure</a> of the polymer. The combination of all of these components—a metallocene, an initiator, and a heteroaromatic diketo carboxylic acid—yields a ternary initiating system that was shown to accelerate the polymerization and produce polymers with enhanced heat resistance and regular microstructure.<sup id="cite_ref-ipkfd2006_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ipkfd2006-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ipfm2006_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ipfm2006-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Initiator_efficiency">Initiator efficiency</h3></div>
<p>Due to side reactions, not all radicals formed by the dissociation of initiator molecules actually add monomers to form polymer chains. The efficiency factor <i>f</i> is defined as the fraction of the original initiator which contributes to the polymerization reaction. The maximal value of <i>f</i> is 1, but typical values range from 0.3 to 0.8.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The following types of reactions can decrease the efficiency of the initiator.
</p>
<dl><dt>Primary recombination</dt>
<dd>Two radicals recombine before initiating a chain (Figure 8). This occurs within the <a href="Solvent_cage" class="mw-redirect" title="Solvent cage">solvent cage</a>, meaning that no solvent has yet come between the new radicals.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl>
<dl><dt>Other recombination pathways</dt>
<dd>Two radical initiators recombine before initiating a chain, but not in the <a href="Solvent_cage" class="mw-redirect" title="Solvent cage">solvent cage</a> (Figure 9).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl>
<dl><dt>Side reactions</dt>
<dd>One radical is produced instead of the three radicals that could be produced (Figure 10).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl>
<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;">
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<span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\ce {{R.}+ {R'-O-O-R'}-> ROR' + R'O'}}}">
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<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\ce {{R.}+ {R'-O-O-R'}-> ROR' + R'O'}}}</annotation>
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</math></span><img src="./db4e858dc054274e5de8c498178d4db688dbd0b5.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.505ex; width:37.768ex; height:2.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\ce {{R.}+ {R'-O-O-R'}-> ROR' + R'O'}}}" loading="lazy"></span></div><div class="thumbcaption"><i>Figure 10</i>: Reaction of polymer chain R with other species in reaction</div></div></div></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Propagation">Propagation</h2></div>
<p>During polymerization, a polymer spends most of its time in increasing its chain length, or propagating. After the <a href="Radical_initiator" title="Radical initiator">radical initiator</a> is formed, it attacks a <a href="Monomer" title="Monomer">monomer</a> (Figure 11).<sup id="cite_ref-mwm2009_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-mwm2009-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In an ethene monomer, one electron pair is held securely between the two carbons in a <a href="Sigma_bond" title="Sigma bond">sigma bond</a>. The other is more loosely held in a <a href="Pi_bond" title="Pi bond">pi bond</a>. The free radical uses one electron from the pi bond to form a more stable bond with the carbon atom. The other electron returns to the second carbon atom, turning the whole molecule into another radical. This begins the polymer chain. Figure 12 shows how the orbitals of an ethylene monomer interact with a radical initiator.<sup id="cite_ref-cwru2009_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cwru2009-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<p>Once a chain has been initiated, the chain propagates (Figure 13) until there are no more monomers (<a href="Living_polymerization" title="Living polymerization">living polymerization</a>) or until termination occurs. There may be anywhere from a few to thousands of propagation steps depending on several factors such as radical and chain reactivity, the solvent, and temperature.<sup id="cite_ref-l2009_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-l2009-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-p1995_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-p1995-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The mechanism of chain propagation is as follows:
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Termination">Termination</h2></div>
<p><a href="Chain_termination" title="Chain termination">Chain termination</a> is inevitable in radical polymerization due to the high reactivity of radicals. Termination can occur by several different mechanisms. If longer chains are desired, the initiator concentration should be kept low; otherwise, many shorter chains will result.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li>Combination of two active chain ends: one or both of the following processes may occur.
<ul><li><i>Combination:</i> two chain ends simply couple together to form one long chain (Figure 14). One can determine if this mode of termination is occurring by monitoring the molecular weight of the propagating species: combination will result in doubling of molecular weight. Also, combination will result in a polymer that is C<sub>2</sub> symmetric about the point of the combination.<sup id="cite_ref-cwru2009_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cwru2009-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </li>
<li><i><a href="Radical_disproportionation" title="Radical disproportionation">Radical disproportionation</a>:</i> a hydrogen atom from one chain end is abstracted to another, producing a polymer with a terminal unsaturated group and a polymer with a terminal saturated group (Figure 15).<sup id="cite_ref-s1999_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-s1999-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </li></ul></li>
<li>Combination of an active chain end with an initiator radical (Figure 16).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </li>
<li>Interaction with impurities or <a href="Polymerisation_inhibitor" title="Polymerisation inhibitor">inhibitors</a>. <a href="Oxygen" title="Oxygen">Oxygen</a> is the common inhibitor. The growing chain will react with molecular oxygen, producing an oxygen radical, which is much less reactive (Figure 17). This significantly slows down the rate of propagation. <a href="Nitrobenzene" title="Nitrobenzene">Nitrobenzene</a>, butylated hydroxyl toluene, and diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (<a href="DPPH" title="DPPH">DPPH</a>, Figure 18) are a few other inhibitors. The latter is an especially effective inhibitor because of the <a href="Resonance" title="Resonance">resonance</a> stabilization of the radical.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Chain_transfer">Chain transfer</h2></div>
<p>Contrary to the other modes of termination, <a href="Chain_transfer" title="Chain transfer">chain transfer</a> results in the destruction of only one radical, but also the creation of another radical. Often, however, this newly created radical is not capable of further propagation. Similar to <a href="Disproportionation" title="Disproportionation">disproportionation</a>, all chain-transfer mechanisms also involve the abstraction of a hydrogen or other atom. There are several types of chain-transfer mechanisms.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li><i>To solvent:</i> a hydrogen atom is abstracted from a solvent molecule, resulting in the formation of radical on the solvent molecules, which will not propagate further (Figure 19). The effectiveness of chain transfer involving solvent molecules depends on the amount of solvent present (more solvent leads to greater probability of transfer), the strength of the bond involved in the abstraction step (weaker bond leads to greater probability of transfer), and the stability of the solvent radical that is formed (greater stability leads to greater probability of transfer). <a href="Halogen" title="Halogen">Halogens</a>, except <a href="Fluorine" title="Fluorine">fluorine</a>, are easily transferred.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><i>To monomer:</i> a hydrogen atom is abstracted from a monomer. While this does create a radical on the affected monomer, resonance stabilization of this radical discourages further propagation (Figure 20).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </li>
<li><i>To initiator:</i> a polymer chain reacts with an initiator, which terminates that polymer chain, but creates a new radical initiator (Figure 21). This initiator can then begin new polymer chains. Therefore, contrary to the other forms of chain transfer, chain transfer to the initiator does allow for further propagation. Peroxide initiators are especially sensitive to chain transfer.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </li>
<li><i>To polymer:</i> the radical of a polymer chain abstracts a hydrogen atom from somewhere on another polymer chain (Figure 22). This terminates the growth of one polymer chain, but allows the other to branch and resume growing. This reaction step changes neither the number of polymer chains nor the number of monomers which have been polymerized, so that the number-average <a href="Degree_of_polymerization" title="Degree of polymerization">degree of polymerization</a> is unaffected.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul>
<p><i>Effects of chain transfer:</i> The most obvious effect of chain transfer is a decrease in the polymer chain length. If the rate of transfer is much larger than the rate of propagation, then very small polymers are formed with chain lengths of 2-5 repeating units (<a href="Telomerization" title="Telomerization">telomerization</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Mayo equation estimates the influence of chain transfer on chain length (<i>x<sub>n</sub></i>): <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\frac {1}{x_{n}}}=\left({\frac {1}{x_{n}}}\right)_{o}+{\frac {k_{tr}[solvent]}{k_{p}[monomer]}}}">
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<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\frac {1}{x_{n}}}=\left({\frac {1}{x_{n}}}\right)_{o}+{\frac {k_{tr}[solvent]}{k_{p}[monomer]}}}</annotation>
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</math></span><img src="./3af10ecbdc45b856a8cd76ecc9502f63fc6bdc03.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.671ex; width:31.421ex; height:6.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\frac {1}{x_{n}}}=\left({\frac {1}{x_{n}}}\right)_{o}+{\frac {k_{tr}[solvent]}{k_{p}[monomer]}}}" loading="lazy"></span>. Where <i>k<sub>tr</sub></i> is the rate constant for chain transfer and <i>k<sub>p</sub></i> is the rate constant for propagation. The Mayo equation assumes that transfer to solvent is the major termination pathway.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Methods">Methods</h2></div>
<p>There are four industrial methods of radical polymerization:<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<ul><li><i><a href="Bulk_polymerization" title="Bulk polymerization">Bulk polymerization</a>:</i> reaction mixture contains only initiator and monomer, no solvent.</li>
<li><i><a href="Solution_polymerization" title="Solution polymerization">Solution polymerization</a>:</i> reaction mixture contains solvent, initiator, and monomer.</li>
<li><i><a href="Suspension_polymerization" title="Suspension polymerization">Suspension polymerization</a>:</i> reaction mixture contains an aqueous phase, water-insoluble monomer, and initiator soluble in the monomer droplets (both the monomer and the initiator are hydrophobic).</li>
<li><i><a href="Emulsion_polymerization" title="Emulsion polymerization">Emulsion polymerization</a>:</i> similar to suspension polymerization except that the initiator is soluble in the aqueous phase rather than in the monomer droplets (the monomer is hydrophobic, and the initiator is hydrophilic). An emulsifying agent is also needed.</li></ul>
<p>Other methods of radical polymerization include the following:
</p>
<ul><li><i>Template polymerization</i>: In this process, polymer chains are allowed to grow along template macromolecules for the greater part of their lifetime. A well-chosen template can affect the rate of polymerization as well as the molar mass and microstructure of the daughter polymer. The molar mass of a daughter polymer can be up to 70 times greater than those of polymers produced in the absence of the template and can be higher in molar mass than the templates themselves. This is because of retardation of the termination for template-associated radicals and by hopping of a radical to the neighboring template after reaching the end of a template polymer.<sup id="cite_ref-c1997_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-c1997-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><i><a href="Plasma_polymerization" title="Plasma polymerization">Plasma polymerization</a></i>: The polymerization is initiated with plasma. A variety of organic molecules including <a href="Alkene" title="Alkene">alkenes</a>, <a href="Alkyne" title="Alkyne">alkynes</a>, and <a href="Alkane" title="Alkane">alkanes</a> undergo polymerization to high molecular weight products under these conditions. The propagation mechanisms appear to involve both ionic and radical species. Plasma polymerization offers a potentially unique method of forming thin polymer films for uses such as thin-film capacitors, <a href="Antireflection_coating" class="mw-redirect" title="Antireflection coating">antireflection coatings</a>, and various types of thin membranes.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><i>Sonication</i>: The polymerization is initiated by high-intensity ultrasound. Polymerization to high molecular weight polymer is observed but the conversions are low (<15%). The polymerization is self-limiting because of the high viscosity produced even at low conversion. High viscosity hinders cavitation and radical production.<sup id="cite_ref-o2004_1-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-o2004-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Reversible_deactivation_radical_polymerization">Reversible deactivation radical polymerization</h3></div>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Reversible-deactivation_radical_polymerization" title="Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization">Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization</a></div>
<p>Also known as <a href="Living_polymerization" title="Living polymerization">living radical polymerization</a>, controlled radical polymerization, reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) relies on completely pure reactions, preventing termination caused by impurities. Because these polymerizations stop only when there is no more monomer, polymerization can continue upon the addition of more monomer. <a href="Block_copolymers" class="mw-redirect" title="Block copolymers">Block copolymers</a> can be made this way. RDRP allows for control of molecular weight and dispersity. However, this is very difficult to achieve and instead a pseudo-living polymerization occurs with only partial control of molecular weight and dispersity.<sup id="cite_ref-c1997_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-c1997-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> ATRP and RAFT are the main types of complete radical polymerization.
</p>
<ul><li><i><a href="Atom_transfer_radical_polymerization" title="Atom transfer radical polymerization">Atom transfer radical polymerization</a> (ATRP):</i> based on the formation of a carbon-carbon bond by atom transfer radical addition. This method, independently discovered in 1995 by <a href="Mitsuo_Sawamoto" title="Mitsuo Sawamoto">Mitsuo Sawamoto</a><sup id="cite_ref-Sawamoto_Group_1995_macromol_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Sawamoto_Group_1995_macromol-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and by <a href="Jin-Shan_Wang" title="Jin-Shan Wang">Jin-Shan Wang</a> and <a href="Krzysztof_Matyjaszewski" title="Krzysztof Matyjaszewski">Krzysztof Matyjaszewski</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-Wang-Matyja_1995_jacs_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wang-Matyja_1995_jacs-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-wolf_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wolf-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> requires reversible activation of a dormant species (such as an <a href="Alkyl_halide" class="mw-redirect" title="Alkyl halide">alkyl halide</a>) and a transition metal halide catalyst (to activate dormant species).<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><i><a href="Reversible_addition%E2%88%92fragmentation_chain-transfer_polymerization" title="Reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization">Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer Polymerization</a> (RAFT):</i> requires a compound that can act as a reversible chain-transfer agent, such as dithio compound.<sup id="cite_ref-ca2008_2-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ca2008-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>
<li><i>Stable Free Radical Polymerization (SFRP)</i>: used to synthesize linear or branched polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions and reactive end groups on each polymer chain. The process has also been used to create block co-polymers with unique properties. Conversion rates are about 100% using this process but require temperatures of about 135 °C. This process is most commonly used with acrylates, styrenes, and dienes. The reaction scheme in Figure 23 illustrates the SFRP process.<sup id="cite_ref-x2010_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-x2010-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Because the chain end is functionalized with the <a href="TEMPO" title="TEMPO">TEMPO</a> molecule (Figure 24), premature termination by coupling is reduced. As with all living polymerizations, the polymer chain grows until all of the monomer is consumed.<sup id="cite_ref-x2010_19-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-x2010-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Kinetics">Kinetics</h2></div>
<p>In typical chain growth polymerizations, the reaction rates for initiation, propagation and termination can be described as follows:
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle v_{i}={\operatorname {d} [M\cdot ]/\operatorname {d} t}=2k_{d}f[I]}">
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<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle v_{p}=k_{p}[M][M\cdot ]}">
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</math></span><img src="./bc7bb155b647c8e9a58d7d300e71a52898b8f221.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:15.674ex; height:3.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle v_{p}=k_{p}[M][M\cdot ]}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle v_{t}={-\operatorname {d} [M\cdot ]/\operatorname {d} t}=2k_{t}[M\cdot ]^{2}}">
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<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle v_{t}={-\operatorname {d} [M\cdot ]/\operatorname {d} t}=2k_{t}[M\cdot ]^{2}}</annotation>
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</math></span><img src="./e451f440b60e6b1e9fbe627b99a0d6eb734aeea4.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:28.726ex; height:3.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle v_{t}={-\operatorname {d} [M\cdot ]/\operatorname {d} t}=2k_{t}[M\cdot ]^{2}}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>where <i>f</i> is the efficiency of the initiator and k<sub>d</sub>, k<sub>p</sub>, and k<sub>t</sub> are the constants for initiator dissociation, chain propagation and termination, respectively. [I] [M] and [M•] are the concentrations of the initiator, monomer and the active growing chain.
</p><p>Under the <a href="Steady-state_approximation" class="mw-redirect" title="Steady-state approximation">steady-state approximation</a>, the concentration of the active growing chains remains constant, i.e. the rates of initiation and of termination are equal. The concentration of active chain can be derived and expressed in terms of the other known species in the system.
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle [M\cdot ]=\left({\frac {k_{d}[I]f}{k_{t}}}\right)^{1/2}}">
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<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle [M\cdot ]=\left({\frac {k_{d}[I]f}{k_{t}}}\right)^{1/2}}</annotation>
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<p>In this case, the rate of chain propagation can be further described using a function of the initiator and monomer concentrations<sup id="cite_ref-Cowie2_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cowie2-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle v_{p}={k_{p}}\left({\frac {fk_{d}}{k_{t}}}\right)^{1/2}[I]^{1/2}[M]}">
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<p>The <a href="Kinetic_chain_length" title="Kinetic chain length">kinetic chain length</a> v is a measure of the average number of monomer units reacting with an active center during its lifetime and is related to the molecular weight through the mechanism of the termination. Without chain transfer, the kinetic chain length is only a function of propagation rate and initiation rate.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \nu ={\frac {v_{p}}{v_{i}}}={\frac {k_{p}[M][M\cdot ]}{2fk_{d}[I]}}={\frac {k_{p}[M]}{2(fk_{d}k_{t}[I])^{1/2}}}}">
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</math></span><img src="./60318ebbc0960f885949ea451e3692f7cebae026.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.838ex; width:39.366ex; height:6.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \nu ={\frac {v_{p}}{v_{i}}}={\frac {k_{p}[M][M\cdot ]}{2fk_{d}[I]}}={\frac {k_{p}[M]}{2(fk_{d}k_{t}[I])^{1/2}}}}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>Assuming no <a href="Chain_transfer" title="Chain transfer">chain-transfer</a> effect occurs in the reaction, the number average <a href="Degree_of_polymerization" title="Degree of polymerization">degree of polymerization</a> P<sub>n</sub> can be correlated with the kinetic chain length. In the case of termination by disproportionation, one polymer molecule is produced per every kinetic chain:
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x_{n}=\nu }">
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<p>Termination by combination leads to one polymer molecule per two kinetic chains:<sup id="cite_ref-Cowie2_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cowie2-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
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<mi>n</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mn>2</mn>
<mi>ν<!-- ν --></mi>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x_{n}=2\nu }</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./3c0322b48988e0b2a0fe8f2ebb59f3690e7a2cff.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:8.041ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x_{n}=2\nu }" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>Any mixture of both these mechanisms can be described by using the value <span class="texhtml"><var>δ</var></span>, the contribution of disproportionation to the overall termination process:
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x_{n}={\frac {2}{1+\delta }}\nu }">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>x</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>n</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mn>2</mn>
<mrow>
<mn>1</mn>
<mo>+</mo>
<mi>δ<!-- δ --></mi>
</mrow>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mi>ν<!-- ν --></mi>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x_{n}={\frac {2}{1+\delta }}\nu }</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./0435b3bd79ccc6205610e10f08c7e45e27f59bcf.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.171ex; width:12.766ex; height:5.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x_{n}={\frac {2}{1+\delta }}\nu }" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>If chain transfer is considered, the kinetic chain length is not affected by the transfer process because the growing free-radical center generated by the initiation step stays alive after any chain-transfer event, although multiple polymer chains are produced. However, the number average degree of polymerization decreases as the chain transfers, since the growing chains are terminated by the chain-transfer events. Taking into account the chain-transfer reaction towards solvent <i>S</i>, initiator <i>I</i>, polymer <i>P</i>, and added chain-transfer agent <i>T</i>. The equation of P<sub>n</sub> will be modified as follows:<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\frac {1}{x_{n}}}={\frac {2k_{t,d}+k_{t,c}}{{k_{p}}^{2}[M]^{2}}}v_{p}+C_{M}+C_{S}{\frac {[S]}{[M]}}+C_{I}{\frac {[I]}{[M]}}+C_{P}{\frac {[P]}{[M]}}+C_{T}{\frac {[T]}{[M]}}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mn>1</mn>
<msub>
<mi>x</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>n</mi>
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</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mrow>
<mn>2</mn>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mo>,</mo>
<mi>d</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>+</mo>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mo>,</mo>
<mi>c</mi>
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</msub>
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<mrow>
<msup>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>2</mn>
</mrow>
</msup>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>M</mi>
<msup>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>2</mn>
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</msup>
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</mfrac>
</mrow>
<msub>
<mi>v</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>+</mo>
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>M</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>+</mo>
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>S</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>S</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>M</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mo>+</mo>
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>I</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>I</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>M</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mo>+</mo>
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>P</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>P</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>M</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mo>+</mo>
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>T</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>T</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
<mrow>
<mo stretchy="false">[</mo>
<mi>M</mi>
<mo stretchy="false">]</mo>
</mrow>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\frac {1}{x_{n}}}={\frac {2k_{t,d}+k_{t,c}}{{k_{p}}^{2}[M]^{2}}}v_{p}+C_{M}+C_{S}{\frac {[S]}{[M]}}+C_{I}{\frac {[I]}{[M]}}+C_{P}{\frac {[P]}{[M]}}+C_{T}{\frac {[T]}{[M]}}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./f87872861546ef6fc87a203d04693d6898ca25d2.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -3.005ex; width:68.037ex; height:6.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\frac {1}{x_{n}}}={\frac {2k_{t,d}+k_{t,c}}{{k_{p}}^{2}[M]^{2}}}v_{p}+C_{M}+C_{S}{\frac {[S]}{[M]}}+C_{I}{\frac {[I]}{[M]}}+C_{P}{\frac {[P]}{[M]}}+C_{T}{\frac {[T]}{[M]}}}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>It is usual to define chain-transfer constants C for the different molecules
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle C_{M}={\frac {k_{tr}^{M}}{k_{p}}}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>M</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msubsup>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>r</mi>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>M</mi>
</mrow>
</msubsup>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle C_{M}={\frac {k_{tr}^{M}}{k_{p}}}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./d83f16498ff7556f7bd226adcb0c6ec04a88fb05.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.505ex; width:10.726ex; height:6.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle C_{M}={\frac {k_{tr}^{M}}{k_{p}}}}" loading="lazy"></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle C_{S}={\frac {k_{tr}^{S}}{k_{p}}}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>S</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msubsup>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>r</mi>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>S</mi>
</mrow>
</msubsup>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle C_{S}={\frac {k_{tr}^{S}}{k_{p}}}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./fdfb9f8f607697597d9d78d604887b63f279f378.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.505ex; width:9.667ex; height:6.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle C_{S}={\frac {k_{tr}^{S}}{k_{p}}}}" loading="lazy"></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle C_{I}={\frac {k_{tr}^{I}}{k_{p}}}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>I</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msubsup>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>r</mi>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>I</mi>
</mrow>
</msubsup>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle C_{I}={\frac {k_{tr}^{I}}{k_{p}}}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./398ace07eb458bce1be71e7cae53b3c3bd2d2977.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.505ex; width:9.436ex; height:6.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle C_{I}={\frac {k_{tr}^{I}}{k_{p}}}}" loading="lazy"></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle C_{P}={\frac {k_{tr}^{P}}{k_{p}}}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>P</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msubsup>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>r</mi>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>P</mi>
</mrow>
</msubsup>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle C_{P}={\frac {k_{tr}^{P}}{k_{p}}}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./40d4bff382a98ca042cf19e3b7b6901e53880e79.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.505ex; width:9.842ex; height:6.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle C_{P}={\frac {k_{tr}^{P}}{k_{p}}}}" loading="lazy"></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle C_{T}={\frac {k_{tr}^{T}}{k_{p}}}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>C</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>T</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msubsup>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>r</mi>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>T</mi>
</mrow>
</msubsup>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>p</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle C_{T}={\frac {k_{tr}^{T}}{k_{p}}}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./99ebcbf25314cd643227d5e8df4b70c57de07c93.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.505ex; width:9.764ex; height:6.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle C_{T}={\frac {k_{tr}^{T}}{k_{p}}}}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Thermodynamics">Thermodynamics</h2></div>
<p>In chain growth polymerization, the position of the equilibrium between polymer and monomers can be determined by the <a href="Thermodynamics" title="Thermodynamics">thermodynamics</a> of the polymerization. The <a href="Gibbs_free_energy" title="Gibbs free energy">Gibbs free energy</a> (ΔG<sub>p</sub>) of the polymerization is commonly used to quantify the tendency of a polymeric reaction. The polymerization will be favored if ΔG<sub>p</sub> < 0; if ΔG<sub>p</sub> > 0, the polymer will undergo <a href="Depolymerization" title="Depolymerization">depolymerization</a>. According to the thermodynamic equation ΔG = ΔH – TΔS, a negative enthalpy and an increasing entropy will shift the equilibrium towards polymerization.
</p><p>In general, the polymerization is an <a href="Exothermic" class="mw-redirect" title="Exothermic">exothermic</a> process, i.e. negative <a href="Enthalpy" title="Enthalpy">enthalpy</a> change, since addition of a monomer to the growing polymer chain involves the conversion of π bonds into σ bonds, or a <a href="Ring_opening_polymerization" class="mw-redirect" title="Ring opening polymerization">ring–opening reaction</a> that releases the ring tension in a cyclic monomer. Meanwhile, during polymerization, a large amount of small molecules are associated, losing rotation and translational <a href="Degrees_of_freedom_(physics_and_chemistry)" title="Degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry)">degrees of freedom</a>. As a result, the <a href="Entropy" title="Entropy">entropy</a> decreases in the system, ΔS<sub>p</sub> < 0 for nearly all polymerization processes. Since depolymerization is almost always entropically favored, the ΔH<sub>p</sub> must then be sufficiently negative to compensate for the unfavorable entropic term. Only then will polymerization be thermodynamically favored by the resulting negative ΔG<sub>p</sub>.
</p><p>In practice, polymerization is favored at low temperatures: TΔS<sub>p</sub> is small. Depolymerization is favored at high temperatures: TΔS<sub>p</sub> is large. As the temperature increases, ΔG<sub>p</sub> become less negative. At a certain temperature, the polymerization reaches equilibrium (rate of polymerization = rate of depolymerization). This temperature is called the <a href="Ceiling_temperature" title="Ceiling temperature">ceiling temperature</a> (T<sub>c</sub>). ΔG<sub>p</sub> = 0.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Stereochemistry">Stereochemistry</h2></div>
<p>The stereochemistry of polymerization is concerned with the difference in atom connectivity and spatial orientation in polymers that has the same chemical composition.
</p><p><a href="Hermann_Staudinger" title="Hermann Staudinger">Hermann Staudinger</a> studied the stereoisomerism in chain polymerization of vinyl monomers in the late 1920s, and it took another two decades for people to fully appreciate the idea that each of the propagation steps in the polymer growth could give rise to stereoisomerism. The major milestone in the stereochemistry was established by Ziegler and Natta and their coworkers in 1950s, as they developed metal based <a href="Ziegler%E2%80%93Natta_catalyst" title="Ziegler–Natta catalyst">catalyst</a> to synthesize stereoregular polymers. The reason why the stereochemistry of the polymer is of particular interest is because the physical behavior of a polymer depends not only on the general chemical composition but also on the more subtle differences in <a href="Microstructure" title="Microstructure">microstructure</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-c2003_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-c2003-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="Tacticity" title="Tacticity">Atactic</a> polymers consist of a random arrangement of stereochemistry and are amorphous (noncrystalline), soft materials with lower physical strength. The corresponding isotactic (like substituents all on the same side) and syndiotactic (like substituents of alternate repeating units on the same side) polymers are usually obtained as highly crystalline materials. It is easier for the stereoregular polymers to pack into a crystal lattice since they are more ordered and the resulting <a href="Crystallinity" title="Crystallinity">crystallinity</a> leads to higher physical strength and increased solvent and chemical resistance as well as differences in other properties that depend on crystallinity. The prime example of the industrial utility of stereoregular polymers is <a href="Polypropene" class="mw-redirect" title="Polypropene">polypropene</a>. Isotactic polypropene is a high-melting (165 °C), strong, crystalline polymer, which is used as both a plastic and fiber. Atactic polypropene is an amorphous material with an oily to waxy soft appearance that finds use in asphalt blends and formulations for lubricants, sealants, and adhesives, but the volumes are minuscule compared to that of isotactic polypropene.
</p><p>
When a monomer adds to a radical chain end, there are two factors to consider regarding its stereochemistry: 1) the interaction between the terminal chain carbon and the approaching monomer molecule and 2) the configuration of the penultimate repeating unit in the polymer chain.<sup id="cite_ref-s1999_4-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-s1999-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The terminal carbon atom has <i>sp<sup>2</sup></i> hybridization and is planar. Consider the polymerization of the monomer CH<sub>2</sub>=CXY. There are two ways that a monomer molecule can approach the terminal carbon: the mirror approach (with like substituents on the same side) or the non-mirror approach (like substituents on opposite sides). If free rotation does not occur before the next monomer adds, the mirror approach will always lead to an isotactic polymer and the non-mirror approach will always lead to a syndiotactic polymer (Figure 25).<sup id="cite_ref-s1999_4-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-s1999-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p> However, if interactions between the substituents of the penultimate repeating unit and the terminal carbon atom are significant, then <a href="Conformational_isomerism" class="mw-redirect" title="Conformational isomerism">conformational</a> factors could cause the monomer to add to the polymer in a way that minimizes <a href="Steric_effects" title="Steric effects">steric</a> or <a href="Electrostatic" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrostatic">electrostatic</a> interaction (Figure 26).<sup id="cite_ref-s1999_4-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-s1999-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Reactivity">Reactivity</h2></div>
<p>Traditionally, the reactivity of monomers and radicals are assessed by the means of <a href="Copolymer" title="Copolymer">copolymerization</a> data. The <i>Q–e</i> scheme, the most widely used tool for the semi-quantitative prediction of monomer <a href="Mayo%E2%80%93Lewis_equation" title="Mayo–Lewis equation">reactivity ratios</a>, was first proposed by Alfrey and Price in 1947.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The scheme takes into account the intrinsic thermodynamic stability and polar effects in the <a href="Transition_state" title="Transition state">transition state</a>. A given radical <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle M_{i}^{o}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msubsup>
<mi>M</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>i</mi>
</mrow>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>o</mi>
</mrow>
</msubsup>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle M_{i}^{o}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./31635cf6e099bbeaae6dfbdce81c0c65167b30ec.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:3.528ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle M_{i}^{o}}" loading="lazy"></span> and a monomer <span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle M_{j}}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>M</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mi>j</mi>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle M_{j}}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./a0238f61c7810b475df799bfc63a067cb5e517b2.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:3.164ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle M_{j}}" loading="lazy"></span> are considered to have intrinsic reactivities P<sub>i</sub> and Q<sub>j</sub>, respectively.<sup id="cite_ref-AL364_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AL364-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The polar effects in the transition state, the supposed permanent electric charge carried by that entity (radical or molecule), is quantified by the factor <i>e</i>, which is a constant for a given monomer, and has the same value for the radical derived from that specific monomer. For addition of monomer 2 to a growing polymer chain whose active end is the radical of monomer 1, the rate constant, <i>k</i><sub>12</sub>, is postulated to be related to the four relevant reactivity parameters by
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle k_{12}=P_{1}Q_{2}\exp(-e_{1}e_{2})}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>12</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<msub>
<mi>P</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>1</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<msub>
<mi>Q</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>2</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mi>exp</mi>
<mo><!-- --></mo>
<mo stretchy="false">(</mo>
<mo>−<!-- − --></mo>
<msub>
<mi>e</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>1</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<msub>
<mi>e</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>2</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo stretchy="false">)</mo>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle k_{12}=P_{1}Q_{2}\exp(-e_{1}e_{2})}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./dae1798f7fbc181749d581940ad8e3193cab2daa.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:23.457ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle k_{12}=P_{1}Q_{2}\exp(-e_{1}e_{2})}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>The monomer reactivity ratio for the addition of monomers 1 and 2 to this chain is given by<sup id="cite_ref-AL364_27-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AL364-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Rudin289_28-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rudin289-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element mwe-math-element-inline"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle r_{1}={\frac {k_{11}}{k_{12}}}={\frac {Q_{1}}{Q_{2}}}\exp(-e_{1}(e_{1}-e_{2}))}">
<semantics>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0">
<msub>
<mi>r</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>1</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>11</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<msub>
<mi>k</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>12</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mo>=</mo>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mfrac>
<msub>
<mi>Q</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>1</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<msub>
<mi>Q</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>2</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
</mfrac>
</mrow>
<mi>exp</mi>
<mo><!-- --></mo>
<mo stretchy="false">(</mo>
<mo>−<!-- − --></mo>
<msub>
<mi>e</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>1</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo stretchy="false">(</mo>
<msub>
<mi>e</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>1</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo>−<!-- − --></mo>
<msub>
<mi>e</mi>
<mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD">
<mn>2</mn>
</mrow>
</msub>
<mo stretchy="false">)</mo>
<mo stretchy="false">)</mo>
</mstyle>
</mrow>
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle r_{1}={\frac {k_{11}}{k_{12}}}={\frac {Q_{1}}{Q_{2}}}\exp(-e_{1}(e_{1}-e_{2}))}</annotation>
</semantics>
</math></span><img src="./0a9282515fa9b1345c34fbe0a7dab3ae72addcdf.svg" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.338ex; width:34.572ex; height:5.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle r_{1}={\frac {k_{11}}{k_{12}}}={\frac {Q_{1}}{Q_{2}}}\exp(-e_{1}(e_{1}-e_{2}))}" loading="lazy"></span></dd></dl>
<p>For the copolymerization of a given pair of monomers, the two experimental reactivity ratios r<sub>1</sub> and r<sub>2</sub> permit the evaluation of (Q<sub>1</sub>/Q<sub>2</sub>) and (e<sub>1</sub> – e<sub>2</sub>). Values for each monomer can then be assigned relative to a reference monomer, usually chosen as <a href="Styrene" title="Styrene">styrene</a> with the arbitrary values Q = 1.0 and e = –0.8.<sup id="cite_ref-Rudin289_28-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Rudin289-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Applications">Applications</h2></div>
<p>Free radical polymerization has found applications including the manufacture of <a href="Polystyrene" title="Polystyrene">polystyrene</a>, <a href="Thermoplastic" title="Thermoplastic">thermoplastic</a> <a href="Block_copolymer" class="mw-redirect" title="Block copolymer">block copolymer</a> elastomers,<sup id="cite_ref-bm2007_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bm2007-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> cardiovascular <a href="Stents" class="mw-redirect" title="Stents">stents</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-rsrcms2005_30-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rsrcms2005-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> chemical <a href="Surfactants" class="mw-redirect" title="Surfactants">surfactants</a><sup id="cite_ref-pcptcmv2000_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pcptcmv2000-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and lubricants. Block copolymers are used for a wide variety of applications including adhesives, footwear and toys.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Academic_research">Academic research</h2></div><p>
Free radical polymerization allows the functionalization of <a href="Carbon_nanotubes" class="mw-redirect" title="Carbon nanotubes">carbon nanotubes</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-hla2007_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hla2007-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> CNTs intrinsic electronic properties lead them to form large aggregates in solution, precluding useful applications. Adding small chemical groups to the walls of CNT can eliminate this propensity and tune the response to the surrounding environment. The use of polymers instead of smaller molecules can modify CNT properties (and conversely, nanotubes can modify polymer mechanical and electronic properties).<sup id="cite_ref-bm2007_29-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bm2007-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For example, researchers coated carbon nanotubes with polystyrene by first polymerizing polystyrene via chain radical polymerization and subsequently mixing it at 130 °C with carbon nanotubes to generate radicals and graft them onto the walls of carbon nanotubes (Figure 27).<sup id="cite_ref-ldspj2004_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ldspj2004-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Chain growth polymerization ("grafting to") synthesizes a polymer with predetermined properties. Purification of the polymer can be used to obtain a more uniform length distribution before grafting. Conversely, “grafting from”, with radical polymerization techniques such as <a href="Atom_transfer_radical_polymerization" title="Atom transfer radical polymerization">atom transfer radical polymerization</a> (ATRP) or nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), allows rapid growth of high molecular weight polymers. </p>
<p>Radical polymerization also aids synthesis of <a href="Nanocomposite" title="Nanocomposite">nanocomposite</a> <a href="Hydrogels" class="mw-redirect" title="Hydrogels">hydrogels</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-h2008_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-h2008-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These gels are made of water-swellable nano-scale <a href="Clay" title="Clay">clay</a> (especially those classed as <a href="Smectite" title="Smectite">smectites</a>) enveloped by a <a href="Network_polymer" class="mw-redirect" title="Network polymer">network polymer</a>. Aqueous dispersions of clay are treated with an initiator and a catalyst and the organic monomer, generally an <a href="Acrylamide" title="Acrylamide">acrylamide</a>. Polymers grow off the initiators that are in turn bound to the clay. Due to recombination and disproportionation reactions, growing polymer chains bind to one another, forming a strong, <a href="Cross-link" title="Cross-link">cross-linked</a> network polymer, with clay particles acting as branching points for multiple polymer chain segments.<sup id="cite_ref-ht2002_35-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ht2002-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Free radical polymerization used in this context allows the synthesis of polymers from a wide variety of substrates (the chemistries of suitable clays vary). Termination reactions unique to chain growth polymerization produce a material with flexibility, mechanical strength and biocompatibility.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="Anionic_addition_polymerization" title="Anionic addition polymerization">Anionic addition polymerization</a></li>
<li><a href="Chain-growth_polymerisation" class="mw-redirect" title="Chain-growth polymerisation">Chain-growth polymerisation</a></li>
<li><a href="Chain_transfer" title="Chain transfer">Chain transfer</a></li>
<li><a href="Cobalt-mediated_radical_polymerization" title="Cobalt-mediated radical polymerization">Cobalt-mediated radical polymerization</a></li>
<li><a href="Living_polymerization" title="Living polymerization">Living polymerization</a></li>
<li><a href="Nitroxide_mediated_radical_polymerization" class="mw-redirect" title="Nitroxide mediated radical polymerization">Nitroxide mediated radical polymerization</a></li>
<li><a href="Polymer" title="Polymer">Polymer</a></li>
<li><a href="Polymerization" title="Polymerization">Polymerization</a></li>
<li><a href="Reversible-deactivation_radical_polymerization" title="Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization">Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization</a></li>
<li><a href="Step-growth_polymerization" title="Step-growth polymerization">Step-growth polymerization</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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<li id="cite_note-l2009-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-l2009_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFLeach" class="citation web cs1">Leach, Mark R. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.meta-synthesis.com/webbook/14_radical/radical.html">"Radical Chemistry"</a>. Chemogenesis<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 April</span> 2010</span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-p1995-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-p1995_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFPojmanJason_WillisDionne_FortenberryVictor_Ilyashenko1995" class="citation journal cs1">Pojman, John A.; Jason Willis; Dionne Fortenberry; Victor Ilyashenko; Akhtar M. Khan (1995). "Factors affecting propagating fronts of addition polymerization: Velocity, front curvature, temperature profile, conversion, and molecular weight distribution". <i>Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry</i>. <b>33</b> (4): <span class="nowrap">643–</span>652. <a href="Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995JPoSA..33..643P">1995JPoSA..33..643P</a>. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fpola.1995.080330406">10.1002/pola.1995.080330406</a>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rudin, Alfred <i>The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering</i> (Academic Press 1982) p.220 <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-12-601680-1</bdi></span>
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<li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rudin, Alfred <i>The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering</i> (Academic Press 1982) p.212 <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-12-601680-1</bdi></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Mayo equation for chain transfer should not be confused with the <a href="Mayo%E2%80%93Lewis_equation" title="Mayo–Lewis equation">Mayo–Lewis equation</a> for copolymers.</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-c1997-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-c1997_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-c1997_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFColombani1997" class="citation journal cs1">Colombani, Daniel (1997). "Chain-Growth Control in Free Radical Polymerization". <i>Progress in Polymer Science</i>. <b>22</b> (8): <span class="nowrap">1649–</span>1720. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0079-6700%2897%2900022-1">10.1016/S0079-6700(97)00022-1</a>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Sawamoto_Group_1995_macromol-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Sawamoto_Group_1995_macromol_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFKato,_MKamigaito,_MSawamoto,_MHigashimura,_T1995" class="citation journal cs1">Kato, M; Kamigaito, M; Sawamoto, M; Higashimura, T (1995). "Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate with the Carbon Tetrachloride / Dichlorotris-(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) / Methylaluminum Bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide) Initiating System: Possibility of Living Radical Polymerization". <i><a href="Macromolecules_(journal)" title="Macromolecules (journal)">Macromolecules</a></i>. <b>28</b> (5): <span class="nowrap">1721–</span>1723. <a href="Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995MaMol..28.1721K">1995MaMol..28.1721K</a>. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1021%2Fma00109a056">10.1021/ma00109a056</a>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Wang-Matyja_1995_jacs-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Wang-Matyja_1995_jacs_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFWang,_J-SMatyjaszewski,_K1995" class="citation journal cs1">Wang, J-S; Matyjaszewski, K (1995). "Controlled/"living" radical polymerization. Atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of transition-metal complexes". <i><a href="J._Am._Chem._Soc." class="mw-redirect" title="J. Am. Chem. Soc.">J. Am. Chem. Soc.</a></i> <b>117</b> (20): <span class="nowrap">5614–</span>5615. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1021%2Fja00125a035">10.1021/ja00125a035</a>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-wolf-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-wolf_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070517203044/http://www.wolffund.org.il/cat.asp?id=15&cat_title=CHEMISTRY">"The 2011 Wolf Prize in Chemistry"</a>. Wolf Fund. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wolffund.org.il/cat.asp?id=15&cat_title=CHEMISTRY">the original</a> on 17 May 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">21 February</span> 2011</span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-x2010-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-x2010_19-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-x2010_19-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20031128090841/http://www.xeroxtechnology.com/sfrp">"Stable Free Radical Polymerization"</a>. Xerox Corp. 2010. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.xeroxtechnology.com/sfrp">the original</a> on 28 November 2003<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">10 March</span> 2010</span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Cowie2-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Cowie2_20-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Cowie2_20-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCowie1991" class="citation book cs1">Cowie, J. M. G. (1991). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/polymerschemistr0000cowi/page/58"><i>Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials</i></a> (2nd ed.). Blackie (USA: Chapman & Hall). pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/polymerschemistr0000cowi/page/58">58–60</a>. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-216-92980-7</bdi>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rudin, Alfred <i>The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering</i> (Academic Press 1982) pp.195-9 <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-12-601680-1</bdi></span>
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<li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rudin, Alfred <i>The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering</i> (Academic Press 1982) p.209 <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-12-601680-1</bdi></span>
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<li id="cite_note-AL364-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-AL364_27-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-AL364_27-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Allcock H.R., Lampe F.W. and Mark J.E. <i>Contemporary Polymer Chemistry</i> (3rd ed., Pearson Prentice-Hall 2003) p.364 <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-13-065056-0</bdi></span>
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<li id="cite_note-Rudin289-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Rudin289_28-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Rudin289_28-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Rudin, Alfred <i>The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering</i> (Academic Press 1982) p.289 <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-12-601680-1</bdi></span>
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<li id="cite_note-pcptcmv2000-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-pcptcmv2000_31-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFBurguiereS._PascualB._CoutinA._Polton2000" class="citation journal cs1">Burguiere, C.; S. Pascual; B. Coutin; A. Polton; M. Tardi; <a href="Bernadette_Charleux" title="Bernadette Charleux">B. Charleux</a>; K. Matyjaszewski; J. P. Vairon (2000). "Amphiphilic block copolymers prepared via controlled radical polymerization as surfactants for emulsion polymerization". <i>Macromolecular Symposia</i>. <b>150</b>: <span class="nowrap">39–</span>44. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1002%2F1521-3900%28200002%29150%3A1%3C39%3A%3AAID-MASY39%3E3.0.CO%3B2-D">10.1002/1521-3900(200002)150:1<39::AID-MASY39>3.0.CO;2-D</a>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-hla2007-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-hla2007_32-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFHomenickG._LawsonA._Adronov2007" class="citation journal cs1">Homenick, C. M.; G. Lawson; A. Adronov (2007). "Polymer grafting of carbon nanotubes using living free-radical polymerization". <i>Polymer Reviews</i>. <b>47</b> (2): <span class="nowrap">265–</span>270. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F15583720701271237">10.1080/15583720701271237</a>. <a href="S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:96213227">96213227</a>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-ldspj2004-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ldspj2004_33-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFLouC._DetrembleurV._SciannameaC._Pagnoulle2004" class="citation journal cs1">Lou, X. D.; C. Detrembleur; V. Sciannamea; C. Pagnoulle; R. Jerome (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://orbi.ulg.ac.be/handle/2268/8255">"Grafting of alkoxyamine end-capped (co)polymers onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes"</a>. <i>Polymer</i>. <b>45</b> (18): <span class="nowrap">6097–</span>6102. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.polymer.2004.06.050">10.1016/j.polymer.2004.06.050</a>. <a href="Hdl_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Hdl (identifier)">hdl</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://hdl.handle.net/2268%2F8255">2268/8255</a></span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-h2008-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-h2008_34-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFHaraguchi2008" class="citation journal cs1">Haraguchi, K. (2008). "Nanocomposite hydrogels". <i>Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science</i>. <b>11</b> (<span class="nowrap">3–</span>4): <span class="nowrap">47–</span>54. <a href="Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007COSSM..11...47H">2007COSSM..11...47H</a>. <a href="Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cossms.2008.05.001">10.1016/j.cossms.2008.05.001</a>.</cite></span>
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</ol></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.materialsworldmodules.org/resources/polimarization/3-addition.html">Addition Polymerization</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiEzlDLlcu4">Free Radical Polymerization (video animation)</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100330175243/http://chem.chem.rochester.edu/~chem421/ct1.htm">Free Radical Polymerization - Chain Transfer</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/radical.htm">Free Radical Vinyl Polymerization</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/alkenes/polymerisation.html">The Polymerization of Alkenes</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100207162220/http://plc.cwru.edu/tutorial/enhanced/FILES/polymers/synth/synth.htm">Polymer Synthesis</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.meta-synthesis.com/webbook/14_radical/radical.html">Radical Reaction Chemistry</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20031128090841/http://www.xeroxtechnology.com/sfrp">Stable Free Radical Polymerization</a></li></ul>
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