POLYMERIZATION OF FORMALDEHYDE USING TETRAVALENT ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS AS AN INITIATOR

Polymerization of gaseous formaldehyde in hexane using various initiat ors including tetravalent organo-tin compounds was investigated. The e nd group of the obtained polymer was examined and it was concluded tha t the chain-transfer agents (such as methanol, etc.) were almost compl etely consumed during the polymerization of gaseous formaldehyde. Only two series of initiators, quaternary ammonium salt and dialkyltin dim ethoxide compounds, produced a polymer with a narrow-molecular-weight distribution (M-w/M-n = 2). The polymer with the narrow-molecular-weig ht distribution (M-w/M-n = 2) produced a product with high Dart impact strength. The polymer with the broad-molecular-weight distribution (M -w/M-n > 2.9) gave the product with low Dart impact strength.