Copolymerisation radiochimique des melanges cristallises styrene-methacrylate de lauryle

The crystallization of lauryl methacrylate is determined by the long paraffin chains which associate to form parallel bundles. Limited amounts of styrene can penetrate into the regions of the crystal where the methacrylic groups are concentrated. The irradiation of the solid mixture leads to a copolymer, the composition of which varies little with the composition of the monomer feed. The kinetics of the copolymerization are studied and compared with the polymerization of crystalline lauryl methacrylate in the presence of benzene, hexane and dodecane. The results are interpreted by considering the influence of these various additives on the crystal structure of lauryl methacrylate which can take two different forms depending on crystallization conditions.