Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.64, No.4, 683-687, 1997
Approaches to Branched Polystyrene Using Bulk Free-Radical Polymerization
Preparation of branched polystyrene using continuous bulk styrene polymerization is extremely difficult due to gel formation and can even lead to reactor plugging. This investigation explores the concept of post-polymerizer branching by placing latent functional groups along the polymer backbone which couple during high-temperature devolatilization of the polymerizer effluent. The latent functional monomer pair investigated is glycidyl methacrylate and acrylic acid. The key to producing a branched polystyrene that is thermally stable is to add one of the latent functional monomers in large excess, making the other monomer the limiting reagent.
Keywords:CHAIN