This book describes the physical and organic chemistry of the reactions by which polymer
molecules are synthesized. The sequence I have followed is to introduce the reader to
the characteristics which distinguish polymers from their much smaller sized homologs
(Chap. 1) and then proceed to a detailed consideration of the three types of polymerization
reactions—step, chain, and ring-opening polymerizations (Chaps. 2–5, 7). Polymerization
reactions are characterized as to their kinetic and thermodynamic features, their scope and
utility for the synthesis of different types of polymer structures, and the process conditions
which are used to carry them out. Polymer chemistry has advanced to the point where it is
often possible to tailor-make a variety of different types of polymers with specified molecular
weights and structures. Emphasis is placed throughout the text on understanding the reaction
parameters which are important in controlling polymerization rates, polymer molecular
weight, and structural features such as branching and crosslinking. It has been my intention
to give the reader an appreciation of the versatility which is inherent in polymerization
processes and which is available to the synthetic polymer chemist.