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Free‐radical bulk polymerization of styrene with a new trifunctional cyclic peroxide initiator
Author(s) -
Sheng WeiChen,
Wu JianYi,
Shan GuoRong,
Huang ZhiMing,
Weng ZhiXue
Publication year - 2004
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.20937
Subject(s) - dispersity , gel permeation chromatography , polymer chemistry , polymerization , polystyrene , molar mass distribution , styrene , radical polymerization , bulk polymerization , chemistry , radical initiator , nitroxide mediated radical polymerization , benzoyl peroxide , solution polymerization , polymer , materials science , copolymer , organic chemistry
Abstract The bulk free‐radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of a new cyclic trifunctional initiator, 3,6,9‐triethyl‐3,6,9‐trimethyl‐1,4,7‐triperoxonane, was studied. Full‐conversion‐range experiments were carried out to assess the effects of the temperature and initiator concentration on the polymerization kinetics, molecular weight, and polydispersity. Gel permeation chromatography was used to measure the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of polystyrene. When this multifunctional initiator was used for styrene polymerization at higher temperatures, it was possible to produce polymers with higher molecular weights and narrower molecular weight polydispersity at a higher rate. This showed that the molecular weight and polydispersity were influenced by the initiator concentration and the polymerization temperature in an unusual manner. Moreover, polystyrene, obtained with trifunctional peroxide, had OO bonds in the molecular chains and was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and gel permeation chromatography. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1035–1042, 2004