Polymerization of styrene initiated by heterogeneous macromolecular initiator

High molecular weight monodisperse polystyrene has been prepared in an emulsion system by using powdered oxidized isotactic polypropylene as an initiator together with triethylenetetramine as an activator. Rate of polymerization increases linearly with emulsifier concentration and also with triethylenetetramine concentration to a certain extent. Molecular weight of polystyrene increases linearly with conversion and with emulsifier concentration, and decreases with triethylenetetramine concentration. For this polymer $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{w}}\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{n}}$ is between 1·005 and 1·134. Fast initiation by active centres bonded on large solid surface, at the beginning of polymerization, and the existence of long living radicals were indicated by continuation of polymerization even after separation of the macromolecular initiator from the system in an inert atmosphere.