On the initial stage of the free-radical polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene C60

It has been demonstrated experimentally and theoretically that the essentially different inhibiting effects of fullerene C60 on the initial stage of the polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate (including complete hampering of styrene polymerization throughout a long induction period) are of common kinetic nature. The difference arises from the competition between C60 and the monomer not for initiating radicals but for radicals originating from the monomer; that is, the difference stems from the competition between the chain propagation reactions and the termination reactions on fullerene molecules. As a consequence, the further development of the process is determined by the relative reactivities of the radicals toward C60 and towards their parent monomers.