Radiation-induced polymerization of butadiene

A study has been made of radiation-induced polymerization of butadiene in mass and in ethyl chloride and liquid ammonia in the temperature range of 80-129 deg. Due to the reaction temperature and solvent nature, polymerization is shown to proceed according to both radical and cationic mechanisms. The relative content of cis-1,4 units in polymers obtained by radiation initiation at temperatures above 0 deg C is less than that in the case of chemical initiation. This is caused by the cis-trans isomerization of double bonds under the action of gamma-radiation. Introduction of magnesium and nickel oxides results in an increase of the polymer yield and of the rate of cis-trans isomerization