Molecular weight distribution in the activated monomer polymerization with nonequal propagation rate constants

Equations are derived to calculate the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymer chains for polymerizations with nonequal propagation rate constants. The presented set of equations allows the determination of the relative propagation rate constants provided the mole fractions of the chains with different degrees of polymerization are known. Furthermore, the MWD function for a polymerization with linearly increasing propagation rate constants is given. Application of the presented relations to analyse the MWD of polymers obtained by activated monomer polymerization is proposed.