Radiation-Induced Polymerization of Tetrafluoroethylene in Solution

Polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene in monochlorodifluoromethane was carried out at low temperatures with -prays from a ⁶⁰Co source. An activation energy of 4.3 kcal/mole was obtained for the in-source polymerization, and this is higher than that of bulk polymerization, 2.7 kcal/mole. It was found that a remarkable postpolymerization takes place even if the reaction system is in liquid state. A kinetic treatment for the postpolymerization is described.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of nitroethylene

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of nitroethylene in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran glass has been studied and discussed in reference to the results obtained from ESR measurements. No postpolymerization occurred at the temperature below ?150°C. In the temperature range between ?135°C and ?78°C, the polymer yield decreased with increasing postpolymerization temperature. The polymer yield increased linearly with the increase of the preirradiation dose in the range below 0.9 × 10⁶ r. The mean value for chain initiation was estimated to be about 1.3. The following correlations were observed between the results of the postpolymerization and ESR measurements. The postpolymerization started in the temperature range between ?140°C and ?135°C, where the ESR spectrum due to the anion radicals of nitroethylene disappeared. The polymer yield of the postpolymerization decreased with the photoirradiation at ?196°C before warming the samples in parallel with the photobleachability of the anion radicals observed in the glassy mixture by the ESR method. It was concluded from these results that the radiation-induced postpolymerization was initiated by the anion radicals of nitroethylene formed by the capture of electons.     

Relation of the decay of free radicals in irradiated polyethylene to the molecular motion of the polymer and the configurations of the free radicals

Decay reactions of the free radicals produced in irradiated polyethylene (high-density and low-density materials) were examined in connection with the molecular motion of the matrix polymer. Three temperature regions, in which the free radicals decay very rapidly, at around 120, 200, and 250°K, were designated T_A, T_L, and T_B, respectively. The decay of the free radicals at these temperatures had activation energies in high-density polyethylene of 0.4 kcal/mole for T_A, 9.4 kcal/mole for T_L, and 18.4 kcal/mole for T_B. In low-density polyethylene these quantities were 0.7 kcal/mole for T_A, 23.1 kcal/mole for T_L, and 24.8 kcal/mole for T_B. Comparison of time constants for the decay reactions and for molecular motion of the matrix polymer indicate that the decay in T_A and T_B is closely related to molecular motion in the amorphous regions of the polymer. The decay of the free radicals at T_L in high-density polyethylene is due to molecular motion associated with local mode relaxation at lamellar surfaces, while that of low-density polyethylene is due to local mode relaxation in the completely amorphous region. Steric configurations of the free radicals which decay in the respective temperature regions were also investigated.     

ESR and chemical study of p-polyphenylene formed by using an AlCl3–CuCl2 catalyst

The free radicals in p-polyphenylene and the formation of free radicals in this polymer upon pyrolysis in vacuum have been studied by means of electron spin resonance. For an unpyrolyzed series of polymer samples, a linear relationship was observed between free radical concentration and increasing carbon content. The free radicals observed in the unpyrolyzed samples did not react with NO. When samples of polyphenylene were pyrolyzed, additional free radicals were produced which did react with NO. The growth of free radical concentration upon pyrolysis was observed to be closely related to the production of volatile products from the polymer. In the temperature range 250–600°C, HCl was the principal volatile species produced. Two mechanisms were involved in HCl production: a process with an activation energy of 7.1 kcal/mole which led to the production of stable free radicals; and a process involving 75 kcal/mole which was unconnected with the production of free radicals. From 600 to 700°C, H₂ was the principal volatile degradation product. The rate at which H₂ was evolved showed a second-order dependence on phenyl units bearing two or three substituents; this process had an activation energy of 79 kcal/mole. Electron spin resonance spectra indicated that this process led to the production of free radicals, and infrared spectra showed that a highly crosslinked product resulted.     

Kinetics of the I2-catalyzed isomerization of allyl chloride to cis- and trans-1-chloro-1-propene. The stabilization energy of the chloroallyl radical

The I₂-catalyzed isomerization of allyl chloride to cis- and trans- l-chloro-l-propene was measured in a static system in the temperature range 225–329°C. Propylene was found as a side product, mainly at the lower temperatures. The rate constant for an abstraction of a hydrogen atom from allyl chloride by an iodine atom was found to obey the equation log [k,/M^?1 sec^?1] = (10.5 ± 0.2) ?; (18.3 ± 10.4)/θ, where θ is 2.303RT in kcal/mole. Using this activation energy together with 1 ± 1 kcal/mole for the activation energy for the reaction of HI with alkyl radicals gives DH⁰ (CH₂CHCHCl? H) = 88.6 ± 1.1 kcal/mole, and 7.4 ± 1.5 kcal/mole as the stabilization energy (SE) of the chloroallyl radical. Using the results of Abell and Adolf on allyl fluoride and allyl bromide, we conclude DH⁰ (CH₂CHCHF? H) = 88.6 ± 1.1 and DH⁰ (CH₂CHCHBr? H) = 89.4 ± 1.1 kcal/ mole; the SE of the corresponding radicals are 7.4 ± 2.2 and 7.8 ± 1.5 kcal/mole. The bond dissociation energies of the C? H bonds in the allyl halides are similar to that of propene, while the SE values are about 2 kcal/mole less than in the allyl radical, resulting perhaps more from the stabilization of alkyl radicals by α-halogen atoms than from differences in the unsaturated systems.     

Configurations of the free radicals in irradiated polypropylene and the relation of their decay reactions to the molecular motion

Free radicals produced in irradiated polypropylene were studied by the electron spin resonance method. Two temperature regions in which the free radicals decay rapidly were found at around 170°K. and 260°K. The first temperature region corresponds to the γ-dispersion of polypropylene and the second to the β-dispersion. Steric configurations of the free radicals were investigated, and it was concluded that the free radicals trapped in polymer, conformation of which is appreciably twisted from the stable 3₁-helical structure, decay with small-scale motion of the matrix polymer. The decay of free radicals trapped in polymer of less twisted conformation is associated with the large-scale motion of the matrix polymer. Activation energies of decay were found to be 11 kcal./mole at the lower temperature and 48 kcal./mole at the higher temperature. Time constants of the decay reactions were compared with those for molecular motion of the matrix, with results reflecting the relations of the decay of the polymer radicals to molecular motion in the matrix.     

Kinetic Studies on the Radiation-Induced Solution Polymerization of Tetrafiuoroethyiene

Abstract

Kinetic studies on the radiation-induced polymerization and postpolymerization of tetrafiuoroethyiene were carried out using chlorofluorohydrocarbons as the solvents. The mechanism of the radiochemical formation of radicals and the kinetics of the radical decay during in-source and postpolymerization are discussed. The remarkable post-polymerization is explained by the unusually slow rate of the bimolecular chain termination. The mechanism of chain transfer reactions is also discussed.     

Radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene. VI. Effects of pressure and temperature

In a radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene, the effects of pressure and temperature were investigated in the range of 0–40 kg/cm² and 7–53°C at emulsifier concentration of 0.5 and 2.0%. Both the polymerization rate and the molecular weight of copolymer increase with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature. These facts are mainly due to an increase of the monomer concentration in the polymer particles. The rate of polymer chain formation was found to be independent of pressure and temperature. The initiation reaction is due mainly to the entry of radicals generated in the aqueous phase into the polymer particles. The apparent activation energy is ?2.0 to ?3.8 kcal/mole for the polymerization in the presence of 0.5% emulsifier, but is nearly zero at an emulsifier concentration of 2.0%. This difference in apparent activation energies at emulsifier concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0% is explained in terms of the termination mechanisms.     

The addition of methyl radicals to tetrafluoroethylene

The addition of methyl radicals to tetrafluoroethylene in the gas phase has been studied over the temperature range 80–180°C, using a material balance method. Arrhenius parameters of 10^11.95±0.23 (mole^?1 cm³ sec^?1) and 5.7 ± 0.4 (kcal/mole) have been measured for the addition reaction. Electrophilic reagents such as O or CF₃ appear to react almost equally readily with ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene but methyl radicals add much more rapidly to tetrafluoroethylene than to ethylene, the difference in reactivity being principally due to an activation energy difference of ～2 kcal/mole.     

Rotational mobility of nitroxyl radicals in polyesters

Rotational mobility of nitroxyl radicals in polyester films was investigated at temperatures from ?180 to +240°C by ESR spin-probe techniques. Evidence obtained indicated that mobility of radicals was related to polymer structure and reflected increased volume made available to the probe molecule by the polymer matrix. A single correlation time, which followed the form τ_C = τ₀ exp {E_a/RT}, was calculated for the temperature range of rapid reorientation (～10⁹ Hz) of nitroxyl radicals. E_a ranged from 5 to 25 kcal/mole for various systems. Uniaxially oriented semicrystalline polymer matrix restricted radical mobility to a greater extent than a semicrystalline biaxially oriented sample. Effective local viscosity encountered by a nitroxyl radical in several polymers was calculated as 9–13 poise.     

Radiation-induced emulsion polymerization of ethylene. IV. Effect of pressure,temperature, and additives on rate in connection with number of polymer particles

The effects of pressure, temperature, and additives on the rate of radiation-induced emulsion polymerization of ethylene with FC-143 as emulsifier were studied kinetically. The rate of polymerization was proportional to the 2.5 power of ethylene fugacity, and the apparent rate constant (rate of polymerization/2.5 power of ethylene fugacity) was constant below 78°C. Above this temperature, the rate constant decreased with an apparent activation energy of ?8.2 kcal/mole. These facts can be interpreted in connection with the polymer structure and the change of rate of escape of radicals from the polymer structure and the change of rate of escape of radicals from the polymer particle into the aqueous phase. The rate of polymerization decreased on addition of a series of n-aliphatic alcohols due to the chain-transfer reaction and consequent escape of radicals to the aqueous phase. On the other hand, the addition of tert-butyl alcohol increased the rate of polymerization, probably because of its effect in increasing swelling of the polymer particles. Addition of electrolytes increased the rate of polymeriaztion as a result of the increase of the number of polymer particles.     

Molecular motion and spin relaxation in polydiethylsiloxane

Quantitative comparison of previously published NMR spin-relaxation data for polydiethylsiloxane with theoretical predictions for a variety of motional processes allowed both the nature and time scale of molecular motions to be identified. At the lowest temperatures, methyl reorientation produced a T₁ minimum and was found to proceed with an activation energy of 2.4 kcal/mole in both amorphous and crystalline phases. Reorientation of the ethyl groups in the amorphous phase was observed at a higher temperature with an activation energy of 9.3 kcal/mole. Relaxation in the melting region was influenced by flexing and stretching of the helical polymer chain. The maximum angular displacement of the chain was estimated to be 24°, with an activation energy for this process of 2.6 kcal/mole.     

The liquid-phase oxidation of 2,4-dimethylpentane

The initiated oxidation of 2, 4-dimethylpentane in the neat liquid phase at 100°C with 760 torr O₂ gives more than 90% of a mixture of 2,4-dihydroperoxy-2,4-dimethylpentane and 2-hydroperoxy-2, 4-dimethylpentane in a ratio of 7:1. The rate of oxidation depends closely on the [initiator]^1/2, consistent with a mechanism in which chain termination occurs mostly by interactions of two 2-hydroperoxy-2, 4-dimethyl-4-pentylperoxy radicals. 2, 4-Dimethylpentane oxidizes only one sixth as fast as isobutane at the same rate of initiation at 100°C. In cooxidations of the same hydrocarbons, it is 0.71 as reactive as isobutane toward any of the peroxy radicals involved. 2, 4-Dimethylpentane oxidizes 7.5 times as fast at 1.25°C as at 50°C for the same rate of initiation, but the ratio of dihydroperoxide to monohydroperoxide increases only from 5 to 7, corresponding to a difference in activation energy between intramolecular and intermolecular abstraction of 1 kcal/mole. The overall activation energy (E_p – E_t/2) is 10.7 kcal/mole, close to the value of 12 kcal/mole found for isobutane. Absolute values for E_p, E_t, k_p, k_r, and k_t were derived. Ring closure of 2-hydroperoxy-2, 4-methyl-4-pentyl radicals to oxetane, not detected during oxidation, was observed when this radical was generated at 100°C in the near-absence of oxygen. The ratio of rate constants for oxetane formation and addition of oxygen to the 2, 4dimethyl-2-hydroperoxy-4-pentyl radical is about 5.4 × 10^?5 M at 100°C. Thus, ring closure to oxetane is too slow to compete with addition of oxygen above ?200 torr. At 100°C, 2, 3-dimethylbutane gave no evidence of any intramolecular abstraction. However, 2, 3-dimethylpentane did give at least 12% 2, 4-glycol or hydroxyketone.     

Solid-state polymerization studies. I. 2-vinylnaphthalene post-polymerization initiated by 60Co γ-irradiation

⁶⁰Co γ-irradiated 2-vinylnaphthalene was obsreved to post-polymerize in the solid phase. Plots of conversion versus time indicated a 14% limiting conversion of monomer to polymer. The post-polymerization was found to be first-order in monomer with an Arrhenius activation energy of 19.0 kcal./mole.     

Radiation-induced ionic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether in bulk

The radiation-induced ionic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether was investigated under conditions where the monomer was dried with molecular sieves. The investigation covered the temperature range from ?16°C to 90°C, and the dose-rate range from 10¹⁵ to 10²⁰ eV/g-sec, using both γ-rays and electrons. A very high overall activation energy of 15.9 kcal/mole was found for the process below 30°C. Above 30°C, however, the value of the overall activation energy dropped to 4.9 kcal/mole, a phenomenon which is ascribed to the solvation of the propagating carbonium ion below 30°C. The dose-rate dependence of the rate of polymerization was found to be 0.58 over the entire dose-rate range investigated. The molecular weight of the polymer was found to be far less sensitive to trace amounts of water than the rate of polymerization. The molecular weight of the polymer depended strongly on the irradiation temperature, reaching a maximum value of about 120,000 at 35°C. It is shown that at temperatures above 20°C regenerative chain transfer processes play an important role in determining the molecular weight of the polymer.     

Quantum chemical studies on electrophilic addition

The geometries of the 2-chloroethyl and ethylenechloronium cations, two possible intermediates in the electrophilic addition of chlorine to ethylene, have been fully optimized using ab initio molecular orbital calculations employing the split valence shell 4-31G basis set.These geometries were then used to compute more accurate wave functions using Dunning's double-zeta basis set. The bridged chloronium ion was found to be more stable by 9.35 kcal/mole, the opposite order of stability from the C₂H₄F⁺ ions. Interconversion of the two C₂H₄Cl⁺ cations was computed to have a barrier of 6.25 kcal/mole.The activation energy for this chlorination reaction, using the ethylenechloronium cation and a chlorine anion at infinite separation as the model for the activated complex, was computed to be 128.7 kcal/mole, showing that this is not a feasible gas phase reaction.     

Communication to the editor pentyl radical isomerizations: Evidence for a 1,2 or 1,3 hydrogen migration

Vibrationally excited pentyl-1, -2, and -3 radicals were formed selectively by the addition of thermal H atoms to the various pentene isomers with approximately 47 kcal/mole of vibrational energy. Decomposition products other than those expected, along with their pressure dependences, support the fact that either 1,2 or 1,3 hydrogen migrations with either a 3- or 4-member cyclic transition state is occurring with a k_a of approximately 3 × 10⁵ or 6 × 10⁵ sec^?1. A corresponding critical energy of 33 or 31 kcal/mole is found.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. II. Kinetic study of radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in dry and high-vacuum system

A kinetic study of the radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state has been made. Trioxane was purified by sublimation through Ag₂O and Na–K alloy in vacuo and was both irradiated and polymerized in a super-dry system under high vacuum. In the present study it was found that the initial rate of polymerization is larger than that reported previously. It is reasonably suggested that the postpolymerization of trioxane consists of two stages, i.e., a very large rate at the first stage and a relatively small one at the second stage. By using the kinetic scheme proposed previously kinetic parameters at the second stage were determined. It was found that trioxane can be postpolymerized even at a temperature below 30°C with good reproducibility and that the overall activation energy of the polymerization was less than 15 kcal/mole. No chain-transfer reaction seems to occur except at low temperatures. These results have been discussed in comparison with data reported previously.     

NMR and ESR studies of the solid-state polymerization of vinyl monomers. III. Methacrylic acid

The kinetics of postpolymerization of γ-irradiated methacrylic acid at 77°K has been investigated by wide-line NMR and by ESR spectroscopy. The conversion yield was continuously measured in the temperature range of 260–280°K, from the narrowing of the NMR spectrum due to the progressive “amorphization” of the matrix, releasing the motion of monomer molecules. The rate of postpolymerization decays exponentially with time, independently of the recombination of free radicals. The local concentration of radicals remaining after prolonged annealing is actually the same as initially, showing that no recombination occurs in the microdomains of polymerization. The ¹³C NMR study of the poly(methacrylic acid) formed by solid-state polymerization shows a predominent syndiotactic character, with an increasing contribution of isotactic sequences as the postpolymerization temperature is lowered.     

NMR and ESR studies of the solid-state polymerization of vinyl monomers. I. Acrylamide

The kinetics of the solid-state polymerization of acrylamide, γ-irradiated at 77°K, has been studied by wide line NMR and by ESR at temperatures above 300°K. This reaction may be followed by the growth of a narrow line superimposed on the NMR spectrum of the monomer. The amplitude of this narrow line has been found to be proportional to the polymer yield. By long continued annealing, the conversion yield approaches a limiting value, generally lower than 50% under most of our experimental conditions. The activation energy of post-polymerization is 19 ± 1 kcal/mole. The radiochemical yield of radicals, determined by ESR, is 0.27 ± 0.03 at 77°K before warming. In the course of annealing above 300°K, the overall concentration of radicals is reduced to about one tenth of its initial value at 77°K. However, the local concentration of the remaining radicals is constant and equal to 1.2 × 10¹⁹ spins/g, i.e., more than 100 times their overall concentration. The recombination of radicals does not seem to intervene in the kinetics of post-polymerization, so that it may be assumed that only the radicals remaining after annealing, have actually contributed to the reaction.