Aspects of the kinetics of the radiation-induced polymerization of acrylonitrile in dimethylformamide

Abstract

The radiation-induced homopolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) in dimethylformamide (DMF) has been followed in detail over a range of monomer concentrations. In all cases a short induction period was observed which was equivalent to 1.6 × 104 rad. The initial rates of polymerization for solutions of AN in DMF of mole fraction (×) of 0.33, 0.20, and 0.10 are 1.44 × 10−5, 7.23 × 10−6, and 2.79 × 10−6 mole/dm3rad, respectively. Deviations of the polymerization pathway from the standard unity in monomer dependence are examined in terms of radical production ratios to the monomer and the solvent (ΦM/ΦS) and the polymer together with the solvent (Φp/Φs), for various mole fractions of AN in DMF. Thus, an indirect route to Gradical(events) is provided together with the corresponding k/kt values.