Polymerization of glass-like solutions of N-phenyl maleimide in dimethyl formamide (DMF)☆

The low temperature radiation-induced polymerization of N-phenylmaleimide solutions in DMF, forming glass at 77°K, has been studied over a wide concentration range. It was shown that with increasing monomer concentration in solution, more and more polymer is formed immediately following γ-irradiation of the glassy solutions at 77°K, as a result of rather high mobility of the monomer molecules in the DMF matrix. By studying the postpolymerization of these solutions, the nature of the active centres was explained and the values of radiochemical yield of radicals, effective activation energy and propagation constant determined.