POLYMERIZATION KINETICS OF STYRENE BY OLIGODODECANDIOYL PEROXIDE, AND ITS USE IN THE PREPARATION OF GRAFT-COPOLYMERS

Bulk polymerization of styrene with oligododecandioyl peroxide (ODDP) was studied and the overall rate constant, k, was found as 8.4 . 10(-5) at 60 degrees C and 5.1 . 10(-4) (l/mol)(1/2) sec(-1) at 80 degrees C. Active polystyrene containing peroxy groups (0.93 wt%) was obtained by the polymerization of styrene with ODDP at 60 degrees C. At the same concentration of the oligoperoxide and at 80 degrees C, the peroxygen content of the active polystyrene was 0.64 wt%. 1:1 mixture of active polystyrene and polybutadiene gave graft copolymers with some homopolymers at 92 degrees C. Graft copolymers were purified by fractional precipitation and then characterized by i.r. NMR and g.p.c.