Polymerization of styrene in presence of masticated rubber

Abstract The influence of the concentration of hydroperoxide (peroxide) groups in rubber (formed during mastication) and the influence of concentration of rubber on the polymerization of styrene were studied at 95, 105, 115 and 130°. The retardation effect of rubber (or non-rubber ingredients) is also due to the participation of less reactive (allylic) radicals from rubber on the termination. The derived kinetic relations allows calculation of a complex constant B * and the rate constant of decomposition of -OOH groups of rubber ( k d ) at various temperatures; the latter are essentially smaller than those in masticated rubber. From kinetic analysis of experimental results, it follows that, during the polymerization of styrene in the presence of rubber, two types of rubber radicals can be formed, viz. a less reactive allylic radical and a more reactive alkyl radical.