Polymerization of vinyl stearate by high energy electrons

Vinyl stearate has been polymerized by 1000 kv. electrons with field intensities ranging from 1.0 × 103 to 20 × 103 rep per second; the polymers are considered to be branched. A discontinuity of reaction rate and molecular weight with respect to temperature was noted in the vicinity of monomer melting point, and it is suggested that in this temperature region, the diffusion constant for propagation is easily affected. A linear relationship between field intensity and polymerization rate, and a constancy in molecular weight with varying field intensities, at constant total dose, indicated that polymerization occurs in “volume elements.”