Open AccessThe mechanism of polymerization reactions. I. The polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate
Author(s) -
R. G. W. Norrish,
E. F. Brookman
Publication year - 1939
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series a, mathematical and physical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.814
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 2053-9169
pISSN - 0080-4630
DOI - 10.1098/rspa.1939.0059
Subject(s) - polymerization , methyl methacrylate , styrene , polymer chemistry , chemistry , methacrylate , methyl vinyl ketone , ketone , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer , catalysis
In the polymerization of styrene, methyl methacrylate, the acrylates including acrylic acid, vinyl acetate, methylvinyl-ketone, vinyl halides, indene and coumarone, the monovinyl compound of the formula CH2 : CH.R is capable of growing into long saturated molecules through the reaction of the olefinic link:n CH2 : CHR → (—CH2 . CH—Ṙ )n . The type of polymerization which is manifested by all these compounds is of a very simple character because only one reactant is involved and one, moreover, whose functionality is limited to two. This means that only straight chains can be produced, and with the simple monovinyl compounds no cross-linking is possible.