Polymerization of vinyl chloride by the Ti(O‐n‐Bu)4–AlEt3–epichlorohydrin catalyst system

The polymerization of vinyl chloride was carried out by using a catalyst system consisting of Ti(O‐n‐Bu)4, AlEt3, and epichlorohydrin. The polymerization rate and the reduced viscosity of polymer were influenced by the polymerization temperature, AlEt3/Ti(O‐n‐Bu)4 molar ratios, and epichlorohydrin/Ti(O‐n‐Bu)4 molar ratios. The reduced viscosity of polymer obtained in the virtual absence of n‐heptane as solvent was two to three times as high as that of polymer obtained in the presence of n‐heptane. The crystallinity of poly(vinyl chloride) thus obtained was similar to that of poly(vinyl chloride) produced by a radical catalyst. It was concluded that the polymerization of vinyl chloride by the present catalyst system obeys a radical mechanism rather than a coordinated anionic mechanism.