(i) Reaction Temperature
Generally the molecular weight of the polymer decreases with increasing temperature of reaction. More initiator molecules are decomposed per unit of time as the temperature is increased. Thus there are more radicals available at any given time and hence more chains are initiated in the presence of the same number of monomer molecules, thus reducing the number of monomer units incorporated per chain. The result is a lower molecular weight polymer and, for a given solvent, a lower solution viscosity. Close control of temperature is therefore essential to ensure consistent molecular weights.