The Effect of Additive on the Radiation-induced Polymerization of Extremely Dry Acrylonitrile

Abstract

The effect of additive on the radiation-induced polymerization of extremely dry acrylonitrile was studied at -78°C. Water, hydrogen bromide and carbon tetrachloride remarkably retarded the rate of the polymerization, and triethylamine, dimethylformamide, nitrous oxide and benzoquinone somewhat reduced the rate of polymerization. These results indicate this mechanism is anionic. By the kinetic analysis using hydrogen bromide as a retarder, an upper limit of the propagation rate constant was estimated to be 4x 10⁷l/mol sec. This suggests the propagating ion is a free anion.