Fourth edition, City University of New York, 2004. — 812 p. OCR
This book describes the physical and organic chemistry of the reactions by which polymer
molecules are synthesized. The sequence I have followed is to introduce the reader to
the characteristics which distinguish polymers from their much smaller sized homologs
(Chap. 1) and then proceed to a detailed consideration of the three types of polymerization
reactions—step, chain, and ring-opening polymerizations (Chaps. 2–5, 7). Polymerization
reactions are characterized as to their kinetic and thermodynamic features, their scope and
utility for the synthesis of different types of polymer structures, and the process conditions
which are used to carry them out. Polymer chemistry has advanced to the point where it is
often possible to tailor-make a variety of different types of polymers with specified molecular
weights and structures. Emphasis is placed throughout the text on understanding the reaction
parameters which are important in controlling polymerization rates, polymer molecular
weight, and structural features such as branching and crosslinking. It has been my intention
to give the reader an appreciation of the versatility which is inherent in polymerization
processes and which is available to the synthetic polymer chemist.
The versatility of polymerization resides not only in the different types of reactants which
can be polymerized but also in the variations allowed by copolymerization and stereoselective
polymerization. Chain copolymerization is the most important kind of copolymerization
and is considered separately in Chap.
6. Other copolymerizations are discussed in the appropriate
chapters. Chapter 8 describes the stereochemistry of polymerization with emphasis on
the synthesis of polymers with stereoregular structures by the appropriate choice of initiators
and polymerization conditions. In the last chapter, there is a discussion of the reactions of
polymers that are useful for modifying or synthesizing new polymer structures and the use
of polymeric reagents, substrates, and catalysts. The literature has been covered through early
2003.
It is intended that this text be useful to chemists with no background in polymers as
well as the experienced polymer chemist. The text can serve as a self-educating introduction
to polymer synthesis for the former. Each topic is presented with minimal assumptions
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regarding the reader’s background, except for undergraduate organic and physical chemistry.
Additionally, it is intended that the book will serve as a classroom text. With the appropriate
selection of materials, the text can be used at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Each
chapter contains a selection of problems. A solutions manual for the problems is available
directly from the author.
