Living polymerization: Rationale for uniform terminology

Polymer chemistry textbooks (e.g., B. Vollmert, Polymer Chemistry, Springer-Verlag: New York, 1973, p 37; G. Odian, Principles of Polymerization, 3rd ed., Wiley: New York, 1991, p 8; H. G. Elias, An Introduction to Polymer Science, VCH: Weinheim, 1997, p 51) classify polymerization reactions as chain, step, and living according to the dependence of their degree of polymerization () or molecular weight ((M) over bar) on conversion. This article discusses the rationale for uniform terminology in living polymerization. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc