Page 14 - POLYMER TECHNOLOGY
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Additional Polymerization basically has three stages: initiation, propagation and
termination.
1. First Stage: Initiation (How the reaction gets started)
- Formation of free radical, A peroxide molecule breaks up into two reactive
free radicals. Light or heat can provide the energy needed for this process.
2. Second Stage: Propagation (How the reaction keeps going)
- Combining of monomers to form long chains. In the propagation phase, the
newly-formed activated monomer attacks and attaches to the double bond
of another monomer molecule. This addition occurs again and again to
make the long polymer chain.
3. Third Stage: Termination (How the reaction stops)
- The length of the polymer chain is controlled in the termination stage by
elimination of free radicals.
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