New simple procedures for the prediction of monomer reactivity ratios and transfer constants in radical polymerisation

The Q-e and Patterns of Reactivity schemes for the quantitative treatment of the reactions of polymer radicals both suffer from drawbacks which seriously limit their usefulness. Two revised versions of the Patterns of Reactivity scheme, in which all the necessary parameters are derived from experimental data, are summarised here. Both new schemes provide significantly more accurate assessments of monomer reactivity ratios and transfer constants than do their predecessors.