ABSTRACT
The application of microwave-assisted heating in organic chemistry,
and especially in polymer science, received widespread attention
during the initial decade of the millennium. With the availability
of dedicated laboratory equipment, which offers accurate control
over reaction conditions and safety measures, microwave-assisted
heating nowadays has become a well-established method for fast
and efficient syntheses. In polymer chemistry, dielectric heating
offers an excellent pathway for accelerated polymerization reac-
tions, especially for polymer classes known for slow propagation
rates under conventional conditions. Following a thorough review
about the application of microwave reactors in polymer chemistry,
published in 2011 [1], this chapter focuses on the developments in
the field since 2010.