ANIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF α-METHYLSTYRENE: PART II. KINETICS

Abstract

Dilatometric measurements have been made of the reaction rates in the reversible equilibrium anionic polymerization of α-methylstyrene initiated by sodium naphthalene in tetra-hydrofuran solution, at temperatures of −10°, −40°, and −77°. The kinetic results and measurements made of the viscosity of the polymer conform with the mechanism of the reaction proposed by Szwarc et al., modified by the large degree of reversibility found with this monomer at these temperatures.