Rates of reaction of polymerization reactions

Rates of reaction of polymerization reactionsPolymersMonomers are compounds which are capable of reacting with other compounds to form polymers. Polymers are compounds which are formed by long chains of many monomers.Types of polymerization reactionsStep growth

Chain growthStep growthIn this type of reaction, polymers build up through the reaction of two or more compounds with a common functional group.

Functional group is like the identity of a compound.Properties of step-growthStep growth polymerization has the following characteristics:Slow formation of productReaction tends to stop at equilibriumHeat is a factor that affects the rate of reaction Factors that affect the rate of reactionMolecule size (at initial stages of reaction)

Functional group (molecules of some functional groups can catalyze the reaction themselves)

Addition of a catalystCatalyzed step-growth reactions Step growth reactions occur at slow rates.

In order to speed up the reactions, catalysts are added to the reaction.

The effect of heat on step-growth

SourcesGraph showing heat increasing the rate of reaction:http://taner.balikesir.edu.tr/dersler/polimer_kimyasi/ekler/polimersorulari/Chapter2.pdf

http://www.che.iitb.ac.in/faculty/sm/CL442/notes/POLYM-REACT.pdf