Physical Chemistry of Equilibrium Polymerization

Abstract

Reversible polymerizations occur in inorganic, organic, and biological molecules. The thermodynamic states at which monomer-to-polymer reactions become favorable can be viewed as second-order phase transitions and can be profitably treated by the statistical mechanics of phase transitions. The nature and development of the microscopic structure of a solution of active polymers in equilibrium with the monomers pose interesting issues for the physical chemist.