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Polymerization of linseed oil in an electric discharge
Author(s) -
Boelhouwer C.,
Hoekstra T.,
Waterman H. I.,
Westerdijk J. B.,
Van Dam J.,
Kruidenier A. J.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02672473
Subject(s) - linseed oil , polymerization , degree of polymerization , chemistry , hydrogen , polymer chemistry , materials science , polymer , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Summary The treatment of linseed oil by the action of electric discharges (voltolization) in a hydrogen atmosphere (80 mm. Hg, 70°C.) is described. It has been known for a long time that voltolization of linseed oil brings about a polymerization of the oil. Now it has been proven that the nature of the polymerization product thus obtained is absolutely different from that of thermally or catalytically polymerized linseed oils. In contrast to the latter, voltolized linseed oils contain only small amounts of cyclic compounds. Their viscosity is relatively low, even at a high polymerization degree, and considerably less than that of thermally polymerized oils of a corresponding degree of polymerization. Atomic hydrogen seems to play an important part in the voltolization process. Coupling of fatty acid chains is made possible by combining radicals, formed primarily by the action of hydrogen atoms. Coupling reaction occurs almost exclusively intermolecularly. The possibility of transforming linseed oil and other drying oils into polymerization products of a completely different chemical structure, depending on the applied polymerization process, opens new possibilities for their manufacture.