ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the general properties and behavior of the group of nonionic synthetic polymers comprised by the organic polyoxides and polyethers. One of the complicating features of this polymer is that up to quite recently only relatively short chain polymers were available, many of which were really oligomers. More recent developments have led to the situation where the whole range of chain lengths from the precursor ethylene glycol up to very high polymers is available. The synthetic methods which are now used may not necessarily give the two hydroxyl end groups per molecule widely assumed to be the case with these polymers. Thus, even in the production of relatively low molecular weight polymers by conventional alkali-catalyzed polycondensation there is the possibility of a termination step which leads to a terminal double bond. Polyethylene oxide is notable for its ready solubility both in water and in a variety of organic liquids.
