The Library
Simplifying the free-radical polymerization of styrene : microwave-assisted high-temperature auto polymerizations
Tools
Erdmenger, Tina, Becer, C. Remzi, Hoogenboom, Richard and Schubert, Ulrich S. (2009) Simplifying the free-radical polymerization of styrene : microwave-assisted high-temperature auto polymerizations. Australian Journal of Chemistry, Vol.62 (No.1). pp. 58-63. doi:10.1071/CH08413 ISSN 0004-9425.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/CH08413
Abstract
We have investigated the combination of the thermally auto-initiated free radical polymerization of styrene and precipitation polymerization in order to develop a fast and environmentally friendly approach to produce polystyrene. To achieve high reaction temperatures in a short period of time, microwave irradiation was utilized as the heating source. Styrene was used without any purification, e.g., without distillation or column filtration. Due to the auto-initiation of styrene at high temperatures no radical initiator was required. Different water- or ethanol-to-styrene ratios were heated far beyond their boiling points and at relatively high pressures for the auto-initiated polymerization of styrene. The obtained molecular weights could be controlled by the ethanol-to-styrene ratio in the case of ethanol as the solvent although the monomer conversions were rather low under the applied conditions. Moreover, the effect of a commercially available stable free nitroxide was investigated on the control over the polymerization. It has been observed that it is possible to control the molecular weight of the polymer by changing the ratio of styrene to free nitroxide (varied from 10:1 to 400:1) and moderate polydispersity indices (PDI = 1.3 to 1.9) could be obtained. Finally, the developed polymerization processes only require a simple purification step due to the precipitation of the polystyrene in the reaction solvent.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | Q Science > QD Chemistry T Technology > TP Chemical technology |
||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Chemistry | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Styrene, Addition polymerization, High temperature chemistry | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Australian Journal of Chemistry | ||||
Publisher: | CSIRO Publishing | ||||
ISSN: | 0004-9425 | ||||
Official Date: | 2009 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Vol.62 | ||||
Number: | No.1 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 58-63 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1071/CH08413 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Funder: | Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI), Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (Germany) |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |