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Free Radical Polymerization of Styrene with a New Tetrafunctional Peroxide Initiator
Author(s) -
FityaniTrimm Sabile,
Dhib Ramdhane,
Penlidis Alexander
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200390010
Subject(s) - polymer chemistry , polystyrene , polymerization , radical polymerization , radius of gyration , molar mass distribution , branching (polymer chemistry) , chemistry , multiangle light scattering , styrene , molar mass , radical initiator , bulk polymerization , polymer , degree of polymerization , copolymer , light scattering , organic chemistry , scattering , physics , optics
Bulk, free‐radical polymerization of styrene was carried out in the presence of a new tetrafunctional initiator (JWEB50, ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc.). The objective was to investigate the effect of initiator functionality on the free radical polymerization process. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with an on‐line multi‐angle laser light scattering (MALLS) detector was used to measure molecular weight (MW), molecular weight distribution (MWD), and radius of gyration ( R g ) of polystyrene. These results were compared to those with a monofunctional initiator, LupTBEC, also from ATOFINA. At equivalent molar concentrations, initiation with JWEB50 and LupTBEC produced polystyrene with similar MWs and MWDs. However, the rate of polymerization was faster with JWEB50. When LupTBEC was four times the molar concentration of JWEB50, equal rates of polymerization were achieved for both initiators. The MWDs were again similar, but the MWs were higher for the tetrafunctional initiation. Degree of branching and gelation were also investigated. A mixture of branched and linear polymer was produced by JWEB50, while no insoluble gel was formed.Decomposition of JWEB50, a tetrafunctional initiator.