Chain Reaction

Chain Growth Animation

Active Chains: 0

Total Polymer: 0 M

Chain Length Distribution

Avg Chain Length: 0.0

Polydispersity (PDI): 0.0

Concentration vs Time

Initiator [I] Monomer [M] Polymer [P] Radicals [R·]

Polymerization Rate vs Time

Current Rate: 0.00 M/s

Max Rate: 0.00 M/s

Reaction Parameters

Rate Constants

Initiation Rate k_d: 0.10 s⁻¹ Propagation Rate k_p: 100 M⁻¹s⁻¹ Termination Rate k_t: 10000 M⁻¹s⁻¹

Initial Concentrations

Initiator [I]₀: 0.01 M Monomer [M]₀: 10.0 M

Animation Controls

Animation Speed: 1.0x Propagation Animation Speed: 1.0x Time Scale: 60 s

Display Options

Show Particle Animation Show Grid Show Chain Length Distribution Steady-State Approximation

Quick Presets

Free Radical Chain Reaction Equations

Initiation: I → 2R· (k_d)

Propagation: R· + M → RM· (k_p)

Termination: R· + R· → R-R (k_t)

Radical Concentration: [R·] = (2f*k_d[I]/k_t)^0.5

Polymerization Rate: R_p = k_p[M][R·]

Kinetic Chain Length: ν = k_p[M]/(2f*k_dk_t)^0.5

Monomer Conversion: X = 1 - [M]/[M]₀

What is Free Radical Chain Reaction Polymerization?

Free radical chain reaction polymerization is a chain-growth polymerization mechanism where reactive intermediates (free radicals) are generated, which then add monomer units in a chain reaction until termination occurs.

Chain Reaction Mechanism

Initiation: I → 2R· (k_d). Propagation: R· + M → RM· (k_p). Termination: R· + R· → R-R (k_t).

Polymerization Kinetics

R_p = k_p(f·k_d/k_t)^0.5[M][I]^0.5. Kinetic chain length ν = k_p[M]/(2f·k_d[I])^0.5.

Molecular Weight Distribution

PDI = 1.5 for disproportionation, PDI = 2.0 for combination termination.

Industrial Applications

Polyethylene, Polystyrene, PVC, PMMA production.

Factors Affecting Polymerization

Initiator concentration, monomer concentration, temperature, chain transfer agents.