Study of gamma-ray radiation induced polymerization of butadiene in ethanol

The 60Co γ-ray radiation induced polymerization of butadiene in bulk and in ethanol at temperature ranging from 15 to 450C has been studied. Hydrogen peroxide was used as initiator in some occasions. The mechanisms of polymerization in ethanol seems to fit the no-energy transfer kinetics described by Shapiro (1962) and the ratio of relative rate of free radical production of solvent/monomer φrel is 19. Then hydrogen peroxide was added to the butadiene-ethanol system the polymerization rate increased and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene was obtained. The microstructure of polybutadiene was studied by IR and NMR spectra. (author)