Cycloketyl radical mediated suspension polymerization of styrene

Abstract

Cycloketyl radical mediated living polymerization (CMP) was applied in the suspension polymerization of styrene (St). The polymerization behavior mediated by 9,9′-bixanthydrol (BIXANDL) both in the absence and presence of a traditional thermal initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was investigated thoroughly. The results show that BIXANDL can initiate the suspension polymerization of St effectively and exert moderate control over molecular weights which grew linearly as St conversion increased. When BIXANDL was utilized along with BPO, the polymerization rate was enhanced and larger increases in chain length with increasing conversions were observed.