Kinetic investigation of the free radical crosslinking copolymerization in the pre‐gel state, 1. Styrene/m‐ and p‐divinylbenzene systems

The kinetic investigation of the free radical crosslinking copolymerization of styrene with m ‐or p ‐divinylbenzene was performed at 60°C in benzene solution with 2,&2prime;‐azoisobutyronitrile as initiator. The mole ratio of divinylbenzene to styrene was steadily kept small. At various stages of the process the concentrations of the remaining monomers were measured by vapor phase chromatography which allowed to calculate both the conversion degrees and the instantaneous composition of the copolymers formed. The radical reactivity ratio of styrene, determined kinetically, was found to be in good agreement with the value obtained by the Kelen‐Tüdös linearization method. The branched polymers formed prior to gelation were studied by light scattering and by size exclusion chromatography. The number of pendant double bonds was determined by analytical titration. From all these results, conclusions were drawn concerning the mechanism of network formation, and more specifically on the reactivity of the pendant double bonds that are formed whenever a divinylbenzene unit is incorporated. This latter factor determines the rate of the formation of the branch points and crosslinks.