Mechanism of peroxide‐initiated styrene polymerization. Infrared absorption of some polymer samples

Abstract

Abstract Previous observations make it probable that one or both ends of a longchain molecule produced by catalyzed vinyl polymerization contain fragments of the initiator. If one uses acid peroxides as initiators, these fragments can contain a carbonyl group. It is the purpose of this paper to investigate whether these carbonyl groups which are present only in a very small amount can be detected by infrared absorption. It seems that in the case of polystyrene initiated with benzoyl peroxide, infrared absorption spectra reveal the presence of a small amount of some carbonyl groups in the polymer. Their amount appears to be in agreement with chemical measurements and with the molecular weight of the material.