Radiation-induced copolymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether with trichloroethylene

Abstract The radiation‐induced copolymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether with trichloroethylene was investigated in the temperature range from −50°C to 100°C over a wide range of comonomer compositions. A copolymer was obtained in which the monomers alternate with regularity along the polymer chain over essentially the entire range of comonomer compositions. Both the rate of copolymerization and the number‐average molecular weight of the resulting copolymer were found to depend strongly on the initial comonomer composition. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined and correspond well with calculated values. An apparent activation energy of 3.2 kcal/mole was obtained for the copolymerization process which exhibits a dose rate dependence of 0.72. The number‐average molecular weight was found to be strongly dependent on the irradiation temperature, reaching a maximum value at 5°C.