Wh. Starnes et al., DICHLOROBUTYL BRANCH FORMATION AND THE QUESTION OF DIFFUSION-CONTROLLED PROPAGATION IN THE POLYMERIZATION OF VINYL-CHLORIDE, Macromolecules, 28(4), 1995, pp. 945-949
Previously published concentrations ((rho)over bar>(BB)'s) of the 2,4-
dichloro-n-butyl branches in poly-(vinyl chloride) (PVC) have been use
d to develop a simple theory that predicts <(rho)over bar>(BB) values
as a function of monomer concentration and temperature during polymeri
zation. The experimental values of <(rho)over bar>(BB) are shown to be
consistent, quantitatively, with the well-known ''back-biting'' mecha
nism for dichlorobutyl branch formation. They also indicate that the a
ctivation energy for back-biting is greater than that for normal chain
propagation by 4.4 kcal/mol. In monomer-swollen PVC at 45-80 degrees
C, back-biting:propagation rate-constant ratios (k(b)/k(p)'s) are inva
riant with monomer conversion up to total conversions of 83-91%, at le
ast, and at 40 degrees C the value of k(b)/k(p) does not change signif
icantly when the polymerization is carried out in 1,2-dichloroethane s
olution instead of in monomer-swollen polymer. These results are shown
to provide strong evidence against diffusion control of the rate of c
hain propagation.