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Polymerization

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Definition

Additional Info

Examples of everyday monomers and their polymers include:

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SDS Relevance

Polymerization of monomers is often an exothermic process (one that evolves heat). If polymerization begins when it is not desired, the result could be a fire or explosion. Materials that can spontaneously polymerize will usually list "hazardous polymerization" as a hazard in Section 10 (stability and reactivity) of their Safety Data Sheet.

Undesired polymerization of a monomer alters the physical properties of the material and could result in undesired changes. One fortunate example of this was the discovery of Teflon™ (the DuPont® trademark for poly(tetrafluoroethylene)) as a white solid in what was supposed to be a cylinder of gaseous tetrafluoroethylene. See the Further Reading below for more on this unlikely discovery.

Further Reading

See also: exothermic.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.



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