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The preparation and polymerization of ethylene‐d 4
Author(s) -
Jamieson D. R.,
Smith C. H.
Publication year - 1978
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.1978.070220909
Subject(s) - ethylene , deuterium , polyethylene , polymer , polymerization , acetylene , ethylene oxide , materials science , polymer chemistry , yield (engineering) , chemical engineering , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , copolymer , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A direct method for preparing deuterated ethylene by reducing acetylene‐d 2 with chromous ions in a dimethylformamide/deuterium oxide mixture is described. This method gives a good yield of precursor gas of relatively high purity. The gas was polymerized with a Ziegler‐type catalyst to produce deuterated polyethylene with sufficient purity and melt flow properties for use in laser fusion studies. A reaction variables study showed that polymerization of deuterated ethylene yields polymers with higher molecular weights than those obtained using normal ethylene. The study also indicated that the deuterium content of the polymer decreases with increasing reaction temperature, thus dictating that the process operates near room temperature. Several mechanical and chemical properties of the deuterated polymer were determined and are reported.