The polymerization of allylidene diacetate

The benzoyl peroxide‐initiated polymerization of allylidene diacetate has been studied. Kinetic runs were carried out dilatometrically at 50, 60, and 80°C., a wide range of initiator concentration being studied at each temperature. In one separate experiment, the relative rates of peroxide consumption and polymer formation were determined. Polymer samples were isolated and studied for molecular weight and initiator fragment concentration. All the experiments showed the polymerization to be of the type described as degradative chain transfer. A kinetic scheme is proposed which envisages the formation of two distinct types of monomer radical depending on the direction of hydrogen transfer: one is propagating, the other stabilized and nonpropagating.