Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by 3.3.4.4‐tetraphenyl hexane and 1.1.2.2‐tetraphenyl cyclopentane

The kinetics of polymerization initiated by mono‐ and biradicals formed by decomposition of 3.3.4.4‐tetraphenyl hexane (TPH) resp. 1.1.2.2‐tetraphenyl cyclopentane (TPCP) have been investigated. The results point to a larger participation of the biradicals from TPCP in the termination reactions than of the monoradicals with TPH. It has been further established that with both above mentioned initiators the usual rate increase in consequence of the gel effect does not occur. On the other hand, in both cases a considerable growth of the average molecular weights takes place in the course of polymerization.