The effect of ultrasonic frequency on polymerization of styrene under sonic
ation at 50 degreesC was studied at the frequencies of 23.4, 45.7, 92, 518
kHz and 1 MHz. Polymerization under sonication was carried out at the ultra
sonic intensity that gives the same reaction rate of decomposition of porph
yrin. The magnitude of the polymerization rate increases in the order of 92
, 45.7 and 23.4 kHz. At the high frequencies of 518 kHz and 1 MHz, no polym
erization was observed. These facts mean that there is an optimum frequency
in the range from 92 to 518 kHz for effective polymerization. The average-
number molecular weights at the sonication time of 3 h are 5.5 x 10(4), 8.0
x 10(4) and 11.5 x 10(4) for the irradiated frequencies of 92, 45.7 and 23
.4 kHz, respectively. Sonication for 3 h at 92 kHz gives polystyrene with v
ery high polydispersity, about 5.0, in comparison with the results obtained
at 23.4 and 45.7 kHz. These observations indicate that polymerization unde
r sonication is influenced by the irradiated frequency. (C) 2001 Elsevier S
cience B.V. Air rights reserved.