| Abstract: | 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. |
