Interaction parameters and the equilibrium anionic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in tetrahydrofuran

Abstract

Flory–Huggins interaction parameters, χ₁₂, have been determined for α-methylstyrene + tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydrofuran + poly(α-methylstyrene) mixtures from static vapour-pressure measurements. For the first system, experiments were performed at five temperatures varying from 20.0 to 40.0 °C and yield values of χ between –0.30 and –0.40. Experimental data for the second system were obtained at 25.0 and 35.0 °C, leading to χ values slightly greater than 0.40. These results are applied to the data obtained for the equilibrium anionic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in tetrahydrofuran and used for the computation of the free energy of polymerization, ΔG_1c. Values of ΔG_1c obtained in this fashion are found to be in good agreement with previously obtained results.