Effects of Addition of Tin(IV) Chloride on Radical Copolymerization of Styrene with Benzylideneacetone or Benzylideneacetophenone

Abstract

The effect of addition of tin (IV) chloride on the radical polymerization of styrene with benzylideneacetone or benzylideneacetophenone was investigated by using a, a'-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The addition of tin (IV) chloride increases the rate of copolymerization and the content of benzylideneacetone or benzylideneacetophenone unit in copolymers. The increase in added amounts of tin (IV) chloride results in a decrease in values of monomer reactivity ratios r1 and r2 and an increase in value of e2. These results would be due to the complex formation between tin (IV) chloride and benzylideneacetone or benzylideneacetophenone.