Polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of precipitants. II.

The kinetics of the radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of precipitants has been successfully described by a one-parameter equation as follows, where ?₀ is initial monomer volume fraction, X is conversion, t is time, and k is reaction constant. The equation was confirmed for extensive conditions of temperatures and monomer concentrations in the case of polymerization in methanol. The degree of polymerization was related with the reaction constant k, initial monomer volume fraction ?₀, monomer chain transfer constant C_m, conversion X, and the initiation rate I as follows, The factors which determine the value of the reaction constant k were elucidated through measurements of the reaction constant k and the degree of polymerization DP _n.