EFFECT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE DERIVATIVE S OF BENZOYL PEROXIDE ON THE GEL EFFECT IN FREE-RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE

Free-radical polymerization of styrene initiated by benzoyl peroxide a nd some its derivatives different in rate constant of decomposition is studied both theoretically and experimentally. In the presence of ini tiators with high value of decomposition rate constant the extension o f gel effect is shown to decrease. The model of chain termination whic h takes into account the dependence of termination rate constant on ch ain length of interacting macroradicals was used for calculations. Thi s model was proved to be valid for the description of the polymerizati on kinetics of methyl methacrylate and a number of methacrylic monomer s. The comparison of the results of calculation with the experimental data obtained confirm the validity of this model of termination for fr ee-radical polymerization of styrene over a wide range of conversions.