Macromolecular Chemistry—8

Book excerpt: Macromolecular Chemistryâ€8 focuses on the molecular configuration of polymers, charge-transfer complexes, polymerization reactions, molecular weight fractionation, and polymer systems. The selection first offers information on molecular configuration in bulk polymers and control of monomer reactivity in copolymerization. Discussions focus on thermodynamic behavior of concentrated polymer solutions; direct measurement of molecular dimensions; and modification of monomer reactivity in radical copolymerization. The book also ponders on non-equimolar compositions from comonomer charge-transfer complexes and preparation of oligomers with functional end groups by polymerization reactions. The text examines cooperative interactions of complementary synthetic macromolecules in solutions and molecular weight fractionation on the basis of solubility. Topics include interactions of chemically complementary molecules and conformational transitions and methods for evaluating the molecular size distribution of the original polymer. The book also tackles alkylaluminium compounds in carbenium ion polymerization and thermodynamics of multicomponent polymer systems. The selection is a dependable reference for readers interested in the molecular configuration of polymers, complexes, and polymer systems.