Radiolysis of vinyl iodide. Part 3.—Formation of polymer in carbon tetrachloride solutions

Abstract

The polymerization by ⁶⁰Co gamma-rays of vinyl iodide in carbon tetrachloride solutions was studied. The infra-red spectrum of the polymer shows the existence of a CCl₃ group per macromolecule independently of the monomer concentration in solutions from which the polymer is formed. Moreover, the polymerization shows a relatively constant M.W., around 7500, a negative temperature coefficient and an intensity exponent of ∼1.0. It is assumed that initiation of polymerization is due to hot CCl₃ radicals or CCl⁺₃ ions, while termination is by deactivating transfer on solvent and on monomer.