Fractal kinetics of radical polymerization of dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride

The proposed technique allows determination of variation in a macromolecular coil structure of dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, characterized by its fractal dimension, during polymerization. It is shown that this one factor, unaccounted for in conventional theories, determines the most important characteristics of a polymerization process: rate, output of a finite product, and molecular weight. Further, the methods of fractal kinetics allow the quantitative description of synthesis of polymers and, in particular, give the correct shape of the conversion degree-time kinetic curve. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.