Monitoring Polymerization Reactions

Polymer chemists and process engineers often struggle to see what is happening inside a reaction while it runs. This book, written with input from established macromolecular scientists and engineers, sets out methods for tracking polymerization as it unfolds. Its aim is to help laboratory researchers refine their reactions by deepening their grasp of reaction kinetics and mechanisms, and to help manufacturers improve large-scale production, with better product quality and lower harmful emissions.

The opening chapters revisit the fundamentals of polymer reactions and their kinetics, and include an overview of stimuli-responsive polymers. The book then turns to why specific characteristics of the polymer and the reaction need to be monitored. Throughout, the authors give step-by-step strategies for putting these methods into practice, and numerous case studies compare different monitoring approaches so that readers can select the one that suits their work.

As stimuli-responsive and so-called intelligent polymers continue to emerge, monitoring reactions will matter more. The book is intended for polymer scientists and engineers who want to optimize reactions both in the laboratory and in the manufacturing plant.