KINETIC NONUNIFORMITY IN PROCESSES OF RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

Specific features of radical polymerization in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems are discussed in light of kinetic non-uniformity of elementary reactions, which means a change of polymerization kinetic parameters in time and space. Kinetic non-uniformity is shown to be caused by changes of physical properties of a reaction system in course of process, and appearance of kinetically non-equivalent areas at certain critical conversion rates. Kinetic non-uniformity in heterogeneous systems in discussed in examples of emulsion polymerization and polymerization with solid dispersed phase. Purposeful formation of kinetically non-uniform areas in reaction systems in shown to be an efficient tool to control the process of polymerization as well as the properties of polymers formed.