Polymerization of Tetraoxane in Solid State Catalyzed by BF₃

Abstract

Tetraoxane was polymerized in solid state by BF₃, gas without suspension medium. The kinetic feature was similar to that of the suspension polymerization of tetraoxane. The molecular weight distribution of polymerswas very broad, and the molecular weight of polymer determined at the initial stage of polymerization was lowand increased with increasing conversion. In the disorientated crystal which was prepared by cooling moltenmonomer, the molecular weight of polymer increased very slowly with increasing conversion. This result suggeststhe orientation of monomer in the crystal is favorable for the propagation reaction.