ABSTRACT
Condensation polymerization is chemically the same as a condensation reaction that produces a small organic molecule. However, as we saw in Chapter 2, in condensation polymerization (i.e., production of a macromolecule) the functionality of reactants must be at least 2. Recall that functionality was defined as the average number of reacting groups per reacting molecule. To derive expressions that describe the physical phenomena occurring during condensation polymerization (polycondensation) — a tool vital to process design and product control — three approaches have been traditionally adopted: kinetic, stoichiometric, and statistical. Various degrees of success have been achieved by each approach. We treat each approach in the succeeding sections. Before then, we briefly discuss the overall mechanism of polycondensation reactions.
