Change of polymer reactivity in the course of macromolecular reaction

For a macromolecular reaction in polymer solution or melt, the reactivity of the transforming unit is supposed to depend upon its microenvironment, including both the nearest neighbours of the same chain and units belonging to the other chains or low molecular components of the reaction mixture. The microenvironment changes with conversion. Hence, the reactivity of polymer functional groups should change during the reaction. Such a reaction belongs to Markovian processes with locally interacting components and time-dependent transient probabilities. To describe the reaction kinetics, it is necessary: (1) to analyse statistical properties of an individual transforming chain, (2) to derive the kinetic equations using relations based on these properties, (3) to determine the dependence of the transient probabilities upon time or upon degree of conversion. For a general reaction model, equations are derived to describe the kinetic curve, distribution of units and composition heterogeneity of the products. The calculations reveal the influence of an interchain interaction on the reaction rate and also on the distribution of units for reaction in a polymer melt.