PC Painter and MM Coleman Fundamentals of Polymer Science (2nd Edition, CRC Press)

Chapter 3

1. What is "Flory's Assumption"?
2. Definitions: reaction rate, rate constant, and concentrations of reactants. How do they relate with each-other ?
3. Step-Growth kinetics: extend of reaction (p), concentration of molecules vs. concentration of functional groups, time-dependence of reaction (eq. 3.9). Go through Exercise 1 below.
4. Free Radical kinetics: definitions of four stages/mechanisms (initiation, propagation, termination, and chain transfer), conversion, steady-state assumption. Go through Exercise 2 below.
5. Free Radical kinetics: what is kinetic chain length, calculate the kinetic chain length (eq. 3.36, 3.37), understand how it relates to the instantaneous and the average molecular weight of the produced polymer
6. Effect of Chain Transfer phenomena on the molecular weight (eq. 3.44, 3.45)

1. * Go through the calculation of step-growth kinetics (pg. 65-68), make sure that you understand equation 3.8
2. * Go through the calculation of free radical kinetics (pg. 69-77), make sure that you understand steady state assumption and kinetic chain length