Interaction | Reaction | Process     Data Page

Propylene undergoes addition polymerisation to give polypropylene, but only with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Simple radical polymerisation, as used with ethylene or vinyl chloride, does not work due to the stability of the intermediate allyl radical.

The stoichiometry of 1000 monomer units polymerising is arbitrary. Average chain length, which determines physical properties, is determined by many factors: temperature, pressure, initiator concentration, etc.

1000
CH3–CH=CH2
  +  
Ziegler-Natta
catalyst
         
Reactant Page Go To Go To
Propene     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Ziegler-Natta catalyst Catalyst    Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Polypropylene     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming

Interaction, Reaction, Process defined as:
British A-Level Chemistry: AS
Industrial Process: Organic
Polymerisation
Radical Addition

© Mark R. Leach 1999 –

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