Preferred Label : chain polymerization;
IUPAC definition : A chain reaction in which the growth of a polymer chain proceeds exclusively by reaction(s)
between monomer(s) and reactive site(s) on the polymer chain with regeneration of
the reactive site(s) at the end of each growth step.;
Scope note : the growth steps are expressed by: px m¿px 1( l){x}¿{1,2,...}wherepxdenotes the growing
chain of degree of polymerizationx, ma monomer and la low-molar-mass by-product formed
in the case of condensative chain polymerization.; propagation in chain polymerization usually occurs without the formation of small
molecules. however, cases exist where a low-molar-mass by-product is formed, as in
the polymerization of oxazolidine-2,5-diones derived from amino acids (commonly termed
amino-acid n-carboxy anhydrides). when a low-molar-mass by-product is formed, the
adjective condensative is recommended to give the term condensative chain polymerization; the adjective chain in chain polymerization denotes a chain reaction rather than a
polymer chain.; a chain polymerization consists of initiation and propagation reactions, and may also
include termination and chain transfer reactions.; the term chain polymerization may be qualified further, if necessary, to specify the
type of chemical reactions involved in the growth step, e.g. ring-opening chain polymerization,
cationic chain polymerization.;
Origin ID : C00958;
See also
A chain reaction in which the growth of a polymer chain proceeds exclusively by reaction(s)
between monomer(s) and reactive site(s) on the polymer chain with regeneration of
the reactive site(s) at the end of each growth step.
