Kinetics of radical polymerization. XXX. Polymerization of styrene in solution

A study was made on the AIBN-initiated polymerization of styrene in benzene and dimethyl formamide at 50°C. The overall rate and the rate of initiation of the polymerization were determined and the number-average and weight-average molecular weights of the polymers formed were measured. The decrease in the rate and degree of polymerization with the decrease in styrene concentration was caused by the corresponding decreases in the rate constants of chain propagation and initiation steps. In the systems studied no chain transfer process occurred with an experimentally measurable rate.