An outline of collective (step) polymerization - 4. Bifunctional systems with a monomer with reactivity asymmetry

General two-monomer (aAa, bBb) bifunctional systems of collective (step) po lymerization, a monomer of which (bBb) is characterized by a reactivity asy mmetry, are theoretically reconsidered and solved following a simple unitar y treatment, that is the basis of the title outline. Number composition qua ntities are calculated in a deterministic stoichiometric way. Number and we ight molecular distributions, and weight averages, are predicted on the bas is of a statistical analysis, which uses the simplest concepts of the proba bility theory (under "equal reactivity postulate") and normal mathematics p rocedures. The two cases of "initial" and "induced" reactivity asymmetry ar e separately solved. Possible extensions including kinetic concepts are als o indicated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.