The anionic polymerization of acrylonitrile

✍ Scribed by Cundall, R. B. ;Eley, D. D. ;Worrall, J.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1962
• Weight: 600 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-3832
• DOI: 10.1002/pol.1962.1205816655

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by diethyl sodiomalonate in dimethylformamide has been investigated. The degree of polymerization was found to be independent of the monomer conversion but was dependent on the extent of polymerization. The polymers produced were examined for functional groups by infrared spectroscopy. An anionic mechanism involving hydride ion transfer to monomer has been suggested. The kinetics of the reaction can be followed because of the slow initiation step and are found to be governed by the rate expression −d[M]/dt = k[M]^2^[C]. The decrease in DP with increasing conversion is due to degradation of the polyacrylonitrile by basic ions. The ratios of the rate constants for both the monomer and polymer transfer reactions to the rate constant for propagation have been determined. The coloration of the polymers appears independent of the degradation reaction.