Re: production of materials propagation question?
what occurs during the process of propagation and also
what steps occur before and after propagation to produce polyethylene.
Initiation --> propagation --> termination.
You need to explain each step and draw a structural formula for each step.
First step is initiation. An initiator molecule is added to start the polymerisation, usually peroxide such as benzoyl peroxide. Peroxides are generally used since the O-O bond is easier to break than bonds in most other molecules. The initiator is decomposed by laser light or heat to form an initiator radical, which reacts with a monomer unit to form a monomer radical.
Condensed Structural formula:
R−O∙ + CH2=CH2 ----------> R−O−CH2−CH2∙
Second step is proagation. The ethylene monomer radical reacts with another ethene monomer, forming a dimer (two monomers that have been bonded together) radical. More and more alkene monomers are added and the polymer chain grows. Back biting may occur leading to chain branching.
Condensed Structural formula:
R−O−CH2−CH2∙ + n[CH2=CH2] -----------> R−O−[CH2−CH2]n−CH2−CH2∙
Final step is termination. Chain growth terminates when two polymer radicals of variable chain length react with each other, forming a longer chain. The initiator molecule is part of the chain and is not present by the end of the reaction.
Condensed Structural formula:
R−O−[CH2−CH2]n−CH2−CH2∙ + R−O−[CH2−CH2]n−CH2−CH2∙ -----------> R−O−[CH2−CH2]n−O−R