Polymerisationskedjan

Polymerisationskedjan, often translated as polymerization chain, refers to the growing molecule during a chain-growth polymerization reaction. In this type of polymerization, a reactive species, such as a radical, cation, or anion, initiates the process by adding to a monomer. This addition creates a new reactive species at the end of the growing chain, which can then react with another monomer. This sequential addition of monomers to the reactive chain end continues, extending the polymer molecule step-by-step.

The polymerization chain is characterized by its active center, which is the site where new monomer units are added. The stability and reactivity of this active center are crucial in determining the rate of polymerization and the properties of the resulting polymer. Different mechanisms of chain growth polymerization, such as free radical, cationic, and anionic polymerization, involve different types of active centers and distinct initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Understanding the dynamics of the polymerisationskedjan is fundamental to controlling polymer molecular weight, architecture, and overall properties. The length of the chain at any given time is a direct result of the balance between monomer addition and chain termination events.