Living Polymerization
Living polymerization is a type of polymerization process that allows for the continuous growth of polymer chains without the formation of dead ends. In this method, the active sites of the growing polymer remain reactive, enabling the addition of more monomers over time. This results in polymers with well-defined structures and narrow molecular weight distributions.
One of the key advantages of living polymerization is its ability to produce block copolymers, where different types of monomers are linked together in a controlled manner. Techniques such as anionic polymerization and cationic polymerization are commonly used in living polymerization, making it a valuable tool in materials science and polymer chemistry.