Abstract
We applied ultrasound to a range of polymerization reactions and we present a summary of the preliminary results. Most of the effects of ultrasound can be attributed to 'cavitation' or the growth and explosive collapse of microscopic bubbles as the sound wave passes through a liquid. High solvent shear forces about the bubble can lead to chain cleavage and modification of the molecular weight and its distribution. The rapid motion of solvent molecules can clean and/or modify the surface of solids such as heterogeneous catalysts and the high temperatures and pressures generated as a result of cavitation can lead to the formation of radicals. The use of each of these effects for the synthesis of polymer materials is demonstrated.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 1037-1044 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Macromolecular reports |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | Suppl 6-7 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 1994 |
| Event | Proceedings of the 3rd Euro-American Conference on Functional Polymers and Biopolymers, Macromolecules '92 - Canterbury, UK Duration: 7 Sept 1992 → 11 Sept 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering