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Frontal polymerization is a polymerization process whereby a localized reaction zone propagates through some medium as a wave we can see (front). There are three types of Frontal polymerization, Thermal, Isothermal, and Photofrontal (are these names capitalized?)

Thermal frontal polymerization is a process whereby an initiator and monomer are heated to the extent of generating a front (Note: not all frontal polymerizations require an initiator). The heat produced from this reaction diffuses down the medium increasing the temperature, which increases the rate of reaction. This creates a localized reaction zone that propagates through the medium as a wave (Figure 1). In this case, the reaction zone is able to propagate by the coupling of the thermal diffusion and the Arrhenius kinetics. The heat produced from the exothermic reaction, is used to generate a new front, repeating this process until the reactants are depleted (Self-propagating).

Isothermal frontal polymerization (IFP) is the slow growth of a swelled polymer solid in contact with its monomer, aka, interfacial gel polymerization [1]

Photofrontal polymerization is the process where the flux of light drives a localized reaction.

Frontal Polymerization was originally discovered by Professor Alexander G. Merzhanov, Director Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences. His work consisted of  Discovery of the solid flame phenomenon and development of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) [2]. Where he used SHS of inorganic compounds (hydrides, borides, carbides, nitrides, silicides, intermetallides, chalcogenides, etc.) [2].

References

1.     John A. Pojman, FP-Overview-4011

2.     http://www.ism.ac.ru/struct/merzh1.htm