Polymerization of 1,3,5-trithiane in the solid state initiated by UV-irradiation. I. Polymerization conditions and polymer characterization

The solid-state 1,3,5-trithiane polymerization initiated by UV-irradiation was studied at various irradiation times and various polymerization temperatures. The conversion of monomer to polymer reaches limiting values (at longest) in about 30 min of reaction. The apparent activation energy of this process is somewhat higher than in the chemically initiated polymerization. Generated by UV, active centers, which initiate the polymerization, are stable. On the basis of X-ray diffraction studies it was found that the prepared polythiomethylene has a hexagonal structure and high degree of crystallinity. In the polymer investigated, a new additional crystal phase is formed, which is not stable.