Chemistry

Bruno Friedman

31 July, 12:40

Consider the polymerization of styrene in toluene at 60°C initiated by di-t-butylperoxide for a solution containing 0.04 mol of initiator and 2 mol of monomer per liter. The initial rates of initiation, Ri, and propagation, RP, are found to be 1.6 x 10'10 M s'1 and 6.4 x 10'7 M 3'1, respectively, at 60°C. (a) Calculate fkd and kp/ktm. (b) Assuming no chain transfer, calculate the initial kinetic chain length. (c) Assuming only disproportionation and under the conditions stated, the transfer constant of styrene, CM, is 0.85 x 104. How much does this transfer affect the molecular weight of the polymer? ((1)