The interpretation of polymerization kinetics with radical initiation. Solution and emulsion polymerization

Australian studies have contributed very greatly to recent gains in understanding of the processes involved in polymer formation from solution and from emulsions. The greatest part of the work was done by the Sydney University School but it has relied heavily on measurements made at AINSE and the wisdom and counsel of David F. Sangster. We suggest in this paper both an analysis of the past and also the directions in which future work appears to us to be heading. We wish to discuss the chemistry of the processes before and after the formation of 'latex' particles for the formation of polyacrylonitrile. We shall use data obtained from studies of the evolution of the detailed particle size distribution during polymerization and accurate measurements of the rates of monomer use which have only become possible in the very recent past.