Cationic graft copolymerization of styrene onto poly(vinyl chloride) initiated by phosphorus trichloride

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of some organic halides on the cationic polymerization of styrene (St) initiated by phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) was studied to clarify the initiation mechanism on the cationic polymerization. Addition of organic halides caused an acceleration to some extent. Further, cationic graft copolymerization of St onto poly(vinyl chloride) and polychloroprene was carried out. In each case, grafting efficiency was lower than 10%. These results in the cationic polymerization of St by PCl3 in nitrobenzene support the assumption that the initiation step is caused by the dissociation of two molecules of PCl3 to ion pairs.