Apparatus for anionic polymerization under inert gas and polymerization of polystyrene

Abstract

An apparatus for anionic polymerization under inert atmosphere was constructed and tested by polymerization of styrene. Polymerization of styrene was initiated with sec-butyllithium in cyclohexane solvent at 45 degrees C. During the polymerization, seven aliquots of the reaction mixture were taken out by use of double tipped needle and terminated with 2-propanol at Various reaction times. Analyzing the time varying molecular weights of the polystyrenes, it was found that the polymerization rate is first order to the monomer concentration. The rate constant of the polymerization is 0.024/M-1/2/s assuming one half order dependence on the concentration of the anionic active center.