KINETICS OF AUTOXIDATIVE POLYMERIZATION OF SUNFLOWER-SEED OIL

The rates of polymerization of unhydrogenated and hydrogenated sunflow erseed oils were measured under atmospheric conditions in the various containers (glass, PET and metal). Polymerization rates showed a stron g dependence on the degree of unsaturation and the light transmittance of the containers. The average molecular weights of polymerized oils were determined by viscosity measurements. The relationship between vi scosity and average molecular weight was determined. It is seen that u nhydrogenated sunflowerseed oil has a higher polymerization rate than hydrogenated oil samples in a glass container and they has higher visc osity values.