Radiation‐induced polymerization of propylene oxide in presence of styrene oxide

Abstract

AbstractThe radiation‐induced polymerization of propylene oxide in the liquid and solid states was investigated and the polymerization mechanism is discussed.The polymerization was carried out at various temperatures by initiating with γ‐rays from Co60 and electrons from a VAN DE GRAAFF accelerator.It was found from these experiments that propylene oxide can polymerize in the presence of styrene oxide in both liquid and solid state, while the polymerization of the pure monomer takes place in neither state.Although in a mixture of styrene oxide and propylene oxide in the liquid state the polymerization of styrene oxide takes place predominantly, the polymerization of propylene oxide can not be neglected at higher concentration of propylene oxide and at low temperatures. On the other hand, polypropylene oxide polymerizes predominantly in a mixture of the two monomers in the solid state.Styrene oxide may play two important roles in the polymerization; the acceleration of initiation reaction and the glassification of propylene oxide in the solid state.