Introduction: Brief introduction to polymer structure; classification of polymers (addition and step growth, thermoplastics and thermosets, linear, branched and network, etc.), molecular weight distributions and averages. Polymerization kinetics and MWD development: Chain growth polymerization-kinetics and kinetic chain length in free radical, anionic and cationic polymerization. Gel effect. Allylic polymerization, (in-situ) casting of polymer products, Molecular weight regulation in chain growth polymerization. Copolymerization kinetics: reactivity ratios and copolymer composition, Walling-Mayo and Skiest equations, MWD prediction, Experimental determination of polymerization kinetics. Step growth polymerization: Types, equal reactivity hypothesis, kinetics and evolution of molecular weight, Deviations from equal reactivity. Reaction engineering of polymerization processes: Bulk, solution, suspension and emulsion polymerization processes. Reactor design for batch, semibatch, CSTR and PFR, influence of mixing on MWD. Heat transfer in polymerization reactors, Additional consideration in the design and operation of commercial polymerization reactors. Special topics in Polymer reaction engineering: Coordination Polymerization, Ziegler-Natta Polymerization, Metallocene Complexes in the Polymerization of Monoolefins. Reactor design issues.