Polymerization of isoprene adsorbed on kaolin from gaseous phase

Abstract

Polymerization of isoprene adsorbed on kaolin from gaseous phase was investigated. In the polymerization process that part of polyisoprene which is in the closest contact with the substrate surface is crosslinked and cannot be extracted by solvents. The extractible polymer fraction is a mixture of macromolecules of normal structure and of polymer chains which carry OH and/or C = O groups in each monomer link. Oxygen-containing groups are also present in the insoluble polyisoprene fraction. The incorporation of oxygen-containing groups into polymer chains is probably due to the reaction of water molecules bonded to the exchangeable cations in kaolin with double bonds in the polyisoprene molecules. The microstructure of the polyisoprene has been elucidated.