Polymerization reactions and processes

At the end of the course, students will be able to choose and implement a polymerization reaction and process to prepare a given polymer.
This involves:

Identifying the reactivity of a monomer with respect to an active species or another monomer,
Defining the polymerization system and process for a given application,
Synthesizing a polymer.

The pedagogical objectives of this course are:

To make students aware of industrial methods, realities and challenges,
To help them understand the importance of all the stages involved in producing a polymer.
To familiarize students with the link between the choice of a synthesis method and a set of specifications.

Functional organic chemistry and reactivity, Molecule characterization methods, Structures and general properties of polymers (SPPOL)

This course covers the various aspects of macromolecular synthesis. It describes the main methods used to produce polymers (chain and step polymerizations). The notion of reactivity of active centers in the case of chain polymerizations is discussed, depending on the nature of the elementary processes involved. This course also covers the processes involved in step polymerization.
It also illustrates the relationship that can exist between a polymerization method, the structure of polymers and their properties. Finally, the main polymerization processes applicable in industrial environments are presented.

Chapter 1 - Overview of macromolecular chemistry
A little history
Reminders: Notion of macromolecular chain (linear polymers, networks, macromolecular architectures)
Chapter 2 - Chain polymerizations : radical polymerization
Elementary mechanisms
Kinetic aspects
Copolymerization
Chapter 3 - Other chain polymerizations
Introduction to anionic, cationic and coordination polymerizations
Chapter 4 - Step polymerizations : polyaddition and polycondensation
General information
Molar mass and structure control
Kinetics: esterification example
Main reactions
Chapter 5 - Polymerization processes
Mass, Solution, Suspension, Emulsion, Industrial examples

Molecular and Polymer Chemistry

Polymer synthesis, P. Rempp and E.W. Merrill, Huetig and Wepf Verlag, Basel-New York-Heidelberg, 1986 ISBN 3-85739-116-2,
Textbook of Polymer Science, F.W. Billmeyer, John Wiley et sons, 1984 ISBN 0-471-82835-3,
Chimie et Physico-Chimie des Polymères, M. Fontanille and Y. Gnanou, Dunod Ed., Paris, 2002 ISBN 2-10-003982-2. Gnanou, Dunod Ed, Paris, 2002 ISBN 2-10-003982-2.