Large-molecule mass spectrometry: using a new technique to solve old problems in radical polymerization kinetics

As is well known, the advent of large-molecule mass spectrometry (MS) techniques has brought about revolutionary advances in polymer characterisation. Less appreciated is the impact these techniques are starting to have on radical polymerisation (RP) kinetics, where they are helping to solve old and previously intractable problems. Primary amongst these is determination of the mode of termination – i.e., the extent of disproportionation versus combination (see Figure 1) – in RP.1 This will be the principal topic of this presentation