KINETICS OF THE CO-POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH SMALL QUANTITIES OF DIVINYLBENZENES

The study of copolymerization of styrene with small amounts ( less than equivalent to 0. 04 wt%) of divinylbenzenes (DVB) offers advantages over similar studies made at high DVB concentrations. A simple set of equations can be used to describe the kinetics of copolymerization at low DVB concentrations. Experimental data show that the copolymerization constants (r//2) for the copolymerization of the first double bonds of m- and p-DVB (monomer 1) with styrene (monomer 2) are 0. 85 and 0. 43, respectively. In contrast to findings at higher DVB concentrations these constants do not change during the first half of the polymerization. After 50% conversion an autoacceleration effect reduces the selectivity of the growing polystyrene radical. The copolymerization constants for the second double bonds of m- and p-DVB during the first half of the polymerization are estimated as 1.