Polymerization of styrene initiated by unsaturated esters of α-hydroxyalkyl peroxides and perester analogues thereof☆

Abstract A comparison is made of the results of polymerization of styrene in the presence of unsaturated, aliphatic, peroxide compounds. It is found that there is a relationship between the structure, thermal stability and initiating activity of the peroxides. It is shown that their initiating activity is determined mainly by the structure of the acyl part of the compound. The initiation rate constants and energies of activation for initiation of polymerization of styrene have been determined and curves are presented of the variation in molecular weight during the course of polymerization.