Free-radical aqueous slurry polymerizations of acrylonitrile: 2. End-groups and other minor structures in polyacrylonitriles initiated by potassium persulfate/sodium bisulfite

Abstract

Polyacrylonitriles prepared by aqueous free-radical slurry polymerization using the potassium persulfate/sodium bisulfite redox initiation system have been examined by FT i.r. and high-field 13C and 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy. They have been shown to contain predominantly sulfonate and non-sulfur containing end-groups derived principally from initiation by bisulfite radicals and transfer to the bisulfite ion. Some sulfate end-groups are present also, although in much smaller amounts than the sulfonate end-groups, and are believed to arise from initiation by sulfate radical anions. In these respects, the polymers resemble closely those made by using ammonium persulfate/sodium metabisulfite as the initiator system.