Modeling and mechanistic studies into radical polymerizations are important for science and industry, but often completely different model assumptions and parameter values are reported for ostensibly the same systems. The projects of the IUPAC Subcommittee “Modeling of Polymerization Kinetics and Processes”, which was established in 1987, aim to rectify this situation through international collaboration designed to produce critically evaluated kinetic parameters. These values are held to be accurate and are recommended for use by the international polymer community. Moreover, reliable methodologies have been established as part of this evaluation process.

Benchmark propagation rate coefficients, kp, have been obtained for styrene, several methacrylates and butyl acrylate by critical evaluation and also by independent experiments. These efforts are currently being extended to kp of vinyl pivalate, to termination rate coefficients, kt, to aqueous phase kp, and to RAFT polymerization kinetics.