| Abstract: | In the polymerization of diallyl phthalate in bulk at 60°C with azobisisobutyronitrile, extensive branching of the polymers obtained before gelation was ascertained from the enhanced broadening of the molecular weight distribution, coupled with the decrease of the residual unsaturation. Copolymerization of poly(diallyl phthalate) and styrene in bulk at 80°C with benzoyl peroxide was studied in detail with regard to the gel formation. The gel time increased with increasing fraction of styrene in feed. Both the gel yield and the conversion of styrene incorporated into the gel increased steadily with polymerization time, even after the total conversion of styrene exceeded 95%. The polystyrene recovered by saponification of the gel was found to carry hydroxyl groups, which should come from the copolymerized diallyl phthalate units. It was concluded that styrene behaved as a diluent in the early stage, and that the crosslinking after gelation of the system proceeded mainly through polymer–polymer reactions involving the occluded polystyryl radicals and poly(diallyl phthalate). |
