KINETIC-BEHAVIOR OF PROPAGATING RADICAL IN BULK-POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE

High resolution ESR spectra of polystyrene radical at various conversion in the bulk polymerization have been determined. The propagation and termination rate coefficients during the whole process of polymerization were evaluated from the conversion and the propagating radical concentration determined by ESR. It was found that the propagating radical has two stable conformations. The reduction of the radical activity with the conversion is partly resulting from the wrapping effect which ia due to the far slower segment relaxation and the very rapid propagation.