Propagating Fronts of Polymerization in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory
John A. Pojman, William W. West, and Jennifer Simmons Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Here we report a simple and inexpensive experiment with propagating fronts of addition polymerization that demonstrates a method of testing the steady-state model of polymerization and includes the effects of heat losses and gravity on a chemical reaction. The experiment we describe involves a novel approach to polymeric materials synthesis but requires no more than test tubes, two inexpensive chemicals, a ruler, and a stopwatch.
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Citation
Pojman, John A.; West, William W.; Simmons, Jennifer. J. Chem. Educ.1997 74 727.
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