Radiation-induced cryocopolymerization of hydrogen cyanide and epichlorohydrin: Copolymerization traveling waves initiated by mechanical fracture at 77 K

Abstract

Low-temperature (77–150 K) radiation-induced copolymerization of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) has been studied. Copolymers have been obtained in two modes of running the reaction, the thermally activated postpolymerization at slow heating of the preliminarily γ-irradiated system and the traveling wave of copolymerization initiated by local brittle fracture of solid samples at 77 K. The threshold values of parameters (a dose of preliminary irradiation, comonomer ratio in the initial mixture) necessary for the realization of the self-sustained wave mode of copolymerization have been determined. An increase in the HCN concentration in the initial comonomer mixture suppresses the copolymerization, and the yield of the copolymer decreases. Epichlorohydrin-soluble copolymers with the content of HCN units up to 5.7 mol % have been obtained as the result of the process.