The mechanism and kinetics of the heterogeneous polymerization of vinyl monomers III. The benzoyl peroxide catalyzed copolymerization of vinyl and vinylidene chlorides

Abstract

Abstract A study has been made of the copolymerization of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride in the presence of 0.75 mol. % Bz2O2 at 47° C. The rate of copolymerization decreases to a minimum value of about one-quarter of the rate for the pure monomers, for a mixture containing about 35 to 40 mol. % vinylidene chloride. Throughout the whole range of monomer compositions the rate increases during the reaction, but the percentage increase in rate varies with the solubility of the copolymer formed. This increase has been ascribed to the precipitation of solid copolymer phase from the reacting system.