Study of the polymerization of acrylonitrile in dimethylformamide solution in the presence of tetramethyl thiuramdisulfide

The induced polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) in dimenthylformamide solution in the presence of various concentrations of tetramethylthiuramdisulfide (TMTD) at temperatures of 55, 58, 60, and 63°C, was studied. It was found, that TMTD has an inhibiting effect on the polymerization. It was also shown that the products formed during the inhibition period have a retarding influence on the further course of the polymerization. The equations for the polymerization rate during and after the inhibition period were derived. The inhibition and retardation effects of TMTD on the polymerization of AN in solution can be expressed by the help of the complex constant B+ and of the empirical constant b, respectively.