Chapter 7 The Kinetics of Polycondensation Reactions

Abstract

This chapter presents the experimentally determined kinetic data that are available on polycondensation reactions and discusses their mechanisms. The statistics of polycondensation reactions helps to understand the reactions and their kinetics. The rates of polycondensations in the melt, in solution and in emulsion are controlled primarily by the kinetics of the reactions between the functional groups involved. Interfacial and solid-state polycondensation are largely dependent on the rate of diffusion of reacting species to the site of the reaction. The chapter discusses the statistical development of equations related to molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and gelation applies to those polycondensations that are limited by the kinetics of the chemical reactions, rather than by the rate of diffusion in the system. However, the equations are independent of the actual kinetics of the particular reaction. The development of these equations gives an extensive treatment for the kinetics of polycondensation reactions.