Scientific principles of present-day and future technologies of synthesis and processing polycondensation polymers. Review

Abstract

The scientific principles of the current and future technologies of polycondensation polymers are examined and a critical review presented of new ideas in this field. It is assumed that in the creation of the scientific basis of the new generation polymer technologies an important role will be played by research into the physicochemical basis and mathematical modelling of the processes of polymer synthesis, the use of methods of artificial intelligence and also the concepts and methods of other (non-chemical) sciences. The status and prospects of work along these lines are reviewed. In analysing the basis of the technology of processing polycondensation polymers the authors start from the idea of them as "living" systems capable in the course of the process of changing in composition and structure. This is particularly important for the realization of the path for regulating the properties of the material by obtaining copolymers and blends and also for the development of the technology of "chemical" shaping when the stages of synthesis of the polymer and obtaining the product of a set form are combined. © 1992.