p. 924. Step-growth polymers
- David J. WaltonDavid J. WaltonCoventry University
- and J. Phillip LorimerJ. Phillip LorimerCoventry University
Abstract
This chapter evaluates step-growth polymers. In the case of step-growth (condensation) polymers, the mechanism is simply an extension of the normal organic condensation reactions in which a small molecule is expelled as the link is built. This is a different situation to the chain polymerizations described in the previous chapter. It is assumed that most step polymerizations involve bimolecular reactions as key mechanistic processes. The chapter then looks at the kinetics of step polymerization. It also considers the commercial preparations of step-growth polymers. The industrial preparation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exploits the reversibility of esterification. A key feature in polymer technology is the manipulation of polymer properties by post-polymerization processing. PET behaviour is affected by its crystallinity.
