ABSTRACT
In contrast to the relatively slow step-reaction polymerizations discussed in Chapter 4, addition chain polymerizations are usually rapid, and the initiation species continues to propagate until termination. Thus, in the extreme case, a single initiation species could produce one high molecular chain, leaving all of the other monomer molecules unchanged. In any case, the concentration of monomer, which is often a substituted vinyl compound, decreases continuously throughout the reaction. In contrast to stepwise polymerization, the rst species produced in chain polymerizations is a high molecular polymer.
