Kinetics of radiation-induced cationic polymerization. Propagation rate constant for α-methylstyrene

Abstract

The radiation-induced polymerization of dry α-methylstyrene is found to be strongly retarded by the addition of very low concentrations of ammonia or trimethylamine. From a study of these effects, the predominant contribution to the polymerization is attributed to a cationic propagation mechanism involving free ions. This interpretation is consistent with other lines of evidence. By kinetic analysis, the propagation rate constant k_p at 30°C is estimated to be 3 × 10⁶M^–1 sec^–1.