Solid-state polymerization of 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane initiated by cobalt-60 γ-radiation

The solid-state polymerization of 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane appears to proceed “insource” by an ionic mechanism and has an overall activation energy of 0.4 kcal./mole with an intensity dependency of 0.99. There is a rapid increase in the rate of polymerization just prior to the melting point and a very low rate for the liquid-phase reaction. Limiting conversions of 5% polymer are observed at ?196°C. for irradiation in vacuo. No limiting conversion was observed when the monomer was polymerized in the presence of air or in vacuo at ?78°C. Under all polymerization conditions the reactions were characterized by the absence of an induction period.