COPOLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH CHROMIUM ACRYLATE INITIATED BY STYRENE-ARSENIC SULFIDE COMPLEX

The radical copolymerization of styrene with chromium acrylate in dimethyl formamide at 85 +/- 0.1-degrees-C was studied in presence of styrene-arsenic sulfide complex. The kinetic expression for the system is R(p) alpha-[As2S3]0.5 [Sty]1.0 [Cr-acrylate]1.0, i.e. it follows ideal radical kinetics. The overall activation energy and average value of k(p)2/k(t) are 77.0 kJ mol-1 and 0.45 x 10(-5) 1 mol-1 s-1 respectively. The monomer reactivity ratios was determined as follows r1 (sty) = 0.82 and r2 (Cracrylate) = .08. The product of reactivity ratios reflect ideal copolymerization and therefore a strong alternating tendency in propagation reaction. The Alfrey-Price Q-e parameters for the metal acrylate was calculated and discussed.