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Effect of concentration of inhibitors and retarders on the catalyzed polymerization of styrene
Author(s) -
Sugihara James M.,
Wright Richard D.,
Ernsdorff Bede
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1960.070041105
Subject(s) - benzoyl peroxide , polymerization , styrene , aniline , peroxide , chemistry , polymer chemistry , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer
The effect of varying concentrations of several common retarders and inhibitors on the polymerization of bulk styrene, catalyzed by benzoyl peroxide, was studied dilatometrically at a temperature of 86°C. At a benzoyl peroxide concentration of 1.77 × 10 −3 M , the rate of volume contraction was found to be 1.472 ± 0.103%/hr. or approximately 7.4–8.5% polymerization/hr. The rate constant for the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide in styrene was found to be 36.5 × 10 −6 sec. −1 at 86°C. At any given concentration for the several retarders and inhibitors, data were obtained which provided plots of extent of polymerization versus time of three different types. Trinitrobenzene and N ‐(3‐ N ‐hydroxyanilino‐1,3‐dimethylbutylidene)aniline N ‐oxide gave plots with single lines describing retarded rates of polymerization; diphenylpicrylhydrazyl and the free radical obtained from N ‐(3‐ N ‐hydroxyanilino‐1,3‐dimethylbutylidene)aniline N ‐oxide provided plots showing decreased rates of volume contraction following inhibition periods; and diphenylpicrylhydrazine and benzoquinone gave plots with two intersecting lines, suggesting two discrete steps. Concentrations of regulators were varied between 0.0002 and 0.0027 M . In every instance plots of slopes of lines, inhibition times or intersection points versus concentration or logarithm of concentration provided straight lines.