| Abstract: | The in-source polymerization of octadecyl acrylate in the lamellar crystal (hexagonal packing) by γ-ray irradiation has been investigated, as compared with the two-step and one-step postpolymerizations. The viscosity-average molecular weight is very high even in the initial stage and is practically saturated after 3–5 hr, although the conversion increases successively with time. The molecular weight distribution of poly(octadecyl acrylate) obtained by in-source polymerization is very wide (M w/M n = 13.1, at 20°C). The results of in-source polymerization of the long-chain vinyl compounds can be interpreted using the cone model for polymerization probability, similar to those of one-step and two-step postpolymerizations. |
