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The Molar Mass Distribution of Polymers in Step‐ G rowth Polymerization is Influenced by Cyclization Reactions. The Simplified Case of Irreversible Reactions with Cyclizations is Independent of the Ring Size
Author(s) -
Szymanski Ryszard
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.201300102
Subject(s) - polymerization , molar mass , polymer , degree of polymerization , chemistry , polymer chemistry , molar mass distribution , kinetics , distribution (mathematics) , kinetic chain length , thermodynamics , solution polymerization , organic chemistry , mathematics , physics , mathematical analysis , classical mechanics
There were derived equations describing kinetics of the step‐growth polymerization (SGP) proceeding in parallel with cyclization. Only a simplified case of irreversible reactions and cyclization involving terminal functional groups of linear polymer, with the rate independent of ring‐size was analyzed. The analytical solutions for all main features of the SGP were obtained. The linear polymer exhibits the most probable distribution and attains its limited maximum degree of polymerization before vanishing at complete conversion due to cyclization. The eventual cyclic polymer has lower degree of polymerization than linear one and much broader distribution.