Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. III. Effect of oxygen on the postpolymerization of trioxane

In order to investigate the effects of oxygen on the radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state, a kinetic study has been made. Trioxane was purified by sublimation through Ag₂O and Na-K alloy in vacuo and was irradiated and polymerized in the presence of rigorously dry oxygen. It was found that the initial rate of polymerization and the polymer yields are larger than those obtained in vacuo. By using the kinetic scheme proposed previously the results were analyzed kinetically. It was found that the influence of oxygen on the postpolymerization of trioxane is mainly attributable to the increase in the concentration of active species. The results obtained in dry air have been discussed in comparison with those in vacuo reported previously.     

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.     

Radiation-induced postpolymerization of trioxane in the solid state. V. Studies on copolymer composition

Studies on the composition of copolymers obtained by the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane have been carried out. Gas-chromatographic analysis of the reaction mixtures showed that most of the 1,3-dioxolane disappears rapidly from the reaction system in an early stage of polymerization, and that the fraction of ethylene oxide units in the copolymer chain [E] decreases markedly with increasing polymer yield. This finding was confirmed by NMR spectra of the copolymer. DSC thermograms of the copolymer indicated that the relationship between the melting point and the average composition of copolymers prepared in this study differed from that found for copolymers in which comonomer units are distributed statistically in the polymer chain. It was suggested that the copolymer formed by the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane–1,3-dioxolane is characterized by a heterogeneous distribution of ethylene oxide units in the copolymer chain. It was also found that, in the radiation-induced solid-state postpolymerization of trioxane–1,3-dioxolane, the amount of tetraoxane formation increased linearly with increasing polymer yield. Although it is extremely small compared with that obtained in solution polymerization, it is slightly larger in the trioxane–1,3-dioxolane system than in the trioxane system.     

Copolymerization of trioxane with phenylglycidylether

This study deals with the regularities and peculiarities of the copolymerization of trioxane (TO) and phenylglycidylether (PhGE) in nitrobenzene catalyzed by the cationic initiator BF₃Et₂O. The additions of PhGE were varied in wide bounds from 5 up to 50 mol %. No data were found about the course of copolymerization process, as well as about the influence of the polymerization conditions on the rate of exhaustion of the monomers and the composition of the copolymer. The effect of the polymerization conditions on the rate of exhaustion of comonomers was established. The kinetics of the process has been followed; the following equation is proposed: The activation energy was determined to be E_α = 15.3 kcal/mol. The course of copolymerization of TO/PhGE was compared with those of TO/DO, TO/EO, TO/St, and TO/ECH. The variation of comonomer concentrations was measured by gas chromatographic methods. The copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, IR-, and NMR-spectroscopy, as well as by their molecular weights (M _v).     

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.     

Copolymerization of chloral with trioxane

Copolymers of trichloroacetaldehyde (chloral) and 1,3,5-trioxane have been prepared in solvent-free systems with aluminium bromide as an initiator at 4 and ?15°. CH₂Cl₂ inhibited polymerization. From i.r.-spectra and chlorine determinations, the copolymers were found to have degrees of polymerization of about 40 and to contain 4–17 mole % oxymethylene units. X-ray diffraction studies indicated a completely amorphous material and no melting was observed with differential scanning calorimetry. The latter method indicated a decomposition temperature of 300°, compared with 180 and 220° for polyoxymethylene and polychloral respectively. The copolymers were stable towards chemical treatments deleterious to the corresponding homopolymers viz. 10% aq. KOH at 25° and concentrated H₂SO₄ at 130°. The stability towards alkaline solutions shows that the haloform reaction with polychloral proceeds via depolymerization and not via direct attack on the polymer chain.     

Radiation-induced copolymerisation of trioxane with penta-acetyl-glucose

Copolymerisation of trioxane (TOX) with penta-acetyl-glucose (PAG) in the solid state was investigated by gamma radiation. Effects of radiation doses, PAG concentration, and related parameters were studied and compared with that of the homopolymerisation of TOX. The yield of copolymer was lower than homopolymer and only a fraction of the PAG taken entered into the polymer. Chemical properties of the copolymer were determined; after amine treatment the copolymer showed good thermal stability. The kinetics of homopolymerisation were similar to those of TOX-homopolymerisation.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of tetraoxane in the solid state

The radiation-induced polymerization of tetraoxane in the solid state has been investigated in air and in vacuo. The polymerization rate was higher in air than in vacuo, whereas the molecular weight of the polymer obtained at high conversion in air was considerably lower than in vacuo. A large decrease in the molecular weight with increasing polymer yield observed in air may be explained mainly by degradation during polymerization.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of 1,1,2-trichlorobutadiene in the solid state

Changes in the polymerization and in the structure of the polymer formed during the course of polymerization of 1,1,2-trichlorobutadiene in the solid state were studied. We observed that the rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the polymers formed increasing conversion. The content of 1,4 units in the polymer also increases with increasing conversion.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of cyclohexene sulfide in the solid state

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of cyclohexene sulfide has been investigated. Differential thermal analysis shows that this compound has a phase transition point at ?74°C and behaves as a plastic crystal in the temperature range from ?74 to ?20°C (melting point). By rapid cooling, this plastic crystal was easily supercooled, and below ?166°C a glassy crystal, i.e., a supercooled nonequilibrium state of plastic crystal, was obtained. In-source polymerization proceeded in the plastic crystalline state. Postpolymerization of glassy crystalline monomer irradiated at ?196°C occurred above ?166°C (glass transition point) during subsequent heating.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of tetraoxane in the solid state. II. Molecular weight distribution

In order to investigate the mechanism of the radiation-induced postpolymerization of tetraoxane in the solid state, the polymer was fractionated, and the fractions were characterized by reduced viscosity. The molecular weight of polymer formed in vacuo decreased drastically after the introduction of oxygen under conditions such that the polymer yield increased. The decrease in the molecular weight in the postpolymerization of tetraoxane is attributed to degradation of the polymer in the presence of oxygen. It is suggested that at least peroxides formed by preirradiation contribute to both the increase in polymer yield and the decrease in molecular weight of the polymer.     

Radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of trioxane under high pressure

The in-source polymerization of trioxane in the solid state was investigated over a wide range of temperature and pressure, i.e., from 30 to 140°C and up to 7000 kg/cm², respectively. In the polymerization that was carried out slightly below the melting point under pressure, the higher the pressure, the higher the rate of polymerization. It was confirmed that the maximum rate of solid-state polymerization of trioxane occurs near the melting points, even under elevated pressure. The rate of polymerization decreased with increasing pressure at constant temperature. The shape of the time–conversion curves may be classified into two types, i.e., one which is typical of high pressure and low temperature, and the other which is typical of low pressure and high temperature. Changes in the shape of the conversion—intrinsic viscosity curves occurred coincidentally. Thus, three regions for the different “polymerization characteristic” were determined as functions of polymerization temperature and pressure. Explanations are given for the above-mentioned polymerization characteristic.     

Copolymerization of trioxane by γ-radiation

High molecular copolymers of trioxane with different cyclic ethers and formals were produced by γ-radiation from a ⁶⁰Co source. It was polymerized in the solid state at 53°C. Polymerization does not occur in the melt. Irradiation was carried out with exclusion of air at a dose rate of 7 × 10³ rad/hr. The polymerization rate was increased very considerably in the presence of 1,3-dioxolane and epichlorhydrin; the addition of other comonomers may reduce the yield. The concentration of the comonomer is generally higher in the polymer than in the initial mix. These comonomers which increase the polymerization rate are introduced preferentially into the polymer chain; this is proved by the unstable polymer part and the thermal stability. Experiments with the trioxane–1,3-dioxolane system revealed that the unstable polymer part is markedly reduced and the heat stability considerably inproved with rising concentrations of this monomer. The thermal stability and the reduced viscosity of these copolymers are within the range of technical processability.     

Non-isothermal studies of adduct molecules of metallic halides with oxo-compounds in solid state.IV

Non-isothermal studies of some adduct molecules of metallic halides with di-isopropyl ether as the type MX₂(DIPE), in solid state, were carried out with a derivatograph, where M Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) or Cu(II), XCl^? or Br^?. DIPE  di-isopropyl ether and y = 0.2–1. These adduct molecules lost di-isopropyl ether in single or multiple steps upon heating. Thermally stable intermediate products were isolated and characterised by elemental analysis and IR spectral measurement. The activation energy for each step of decomposition of the adduct was evaluated from the analysis of TG, DTG and DTA curves of the respective derivatogram. The enthalpy change was evaluated from the DTA peak area and the order of reaction was found to be unity for each step of decomposition. Thermal parameters for the above adducts were compared with the adducts of other oxo-compounds like dioxan, tetrahydrofuran and ethylene glycol dimethyl ether.     

Copolymerization with depropagation. IV. Computer simulation of copolymerization with reversibility

The results of Monte Carlo computer simulations of vinyl copolymerizations with complete reversibility are described for a variety of hypothetical systems using values of thermodynamic quantities typically found. Composition of copolymer, sequence distributions, relative chain lengths and equilibrium behavior have all been investigated. The existence of thermodynamic control of copolymerization behavior becomes more obvious as temperature is increased in some systems but may be masked by kinetic factors in others.     

Radiation-induced copolymerization of trioxane: Reactivities of some cyclic ether comonomers

Copolymerization of trioxane solid state induced by gamma radiation with oxycyclic comonomers such as penta acetyl glucose, tetrahydrofuran, styrene oxide, and 1,3 dioxolane has been reported. The relative yields, properties of the copolymers, and the reactivities of the comonomers are discussed. A mechanism for the reactivity is presented.     

Acrylonitrile Copolymerizations. IV. Butadiene Copolymerization

The kinetics of the acrylonitrile–butadiene radical copolymerization, carried out in solution at 60°C, have been followed using gas chromatographic analysis. Remote units effects are observed only on the butadiene-ended radicals but they seem to involve a quite long sequence of butadiene units. The following values of the reactivity ratios are proposed: r_A = 0.067, r_AB = 0.70, r_ABB = 0.66, rABB = ^0.17,rBi → 001 to 0-06 for large values of L The results are discussed in terms of either polarity effects, or differences in reactivities between 1,4- or 1,2-butadiene radicals, or finally of charge transfer complexes between the monomers.     

Kinetics of Free Radical Copolymerization. IV. Rate of Initiation in the Copolymerization System Ethyl Acrylate-Styrene-Benzene

Dependence of the rate constant of initiation on the overall concentration and composition of monomer has been investigated in the free radical copolymerization of ethyl acrylate and styrene in bulk and in benzene solution at 50° C. The rate constant of initiation has been determined by the inhibition method using triphenyl-verdazil as the stable free-radical inhibitor. An equation has been derived to calculate the rate constant of initiation in a copolymerization system, where both monomers undergo a pseudounimolecular side reaction with the inhibitor. The rate constant of initiation in the copolymerization mixture is a linear composition of rate constants determined separately in the pure constituents of the system.