Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The radiation-induced polymerization of cyclopentadiene at -78/sup 0/C: Progress report for the period September 14, 1962 to September 14, 1963. [Gamma radiation]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6665409
Cyclopentadiene has been found to polymerize reproducibly when irradiated at -78/sup 0/C with gamma-rays. Irradiation beyond 2.0% conversion results in gel formation by cross-linking of polymer chains. The molecular weight anti M/sub n/ of the isolated (soluble) polymer exceeds 100,000. The yield of polymer is linear with irradiation dose up to 20% conversion and the initial G(-cyclopentadiene) = 25,000. Beyond a dose of 5.0 x 10/sup 19/ eVg/sup -1/, the pure monomer is converted to a highly cross-linked rubber, impervious to organic solvents. Polymerization also occurs in n-hexane as a diluent. The mechanism of polymerization has been studied by evaluating the effect of basic substances, including ammonia, on the reaction. Our results provide conclusive evidence that the mechanism is ionic in character. The nature of ionic polymerizations induced by ionizing radiation is discussed with relevance to this work and previous studies on ..cap alpha..-methylstyrene and ..beta..-pinene. Brief reference is made to some new results on the polymerization of other hydrocarbon monomers. 19 refs., 2 figs.
Research Organization:
Tennessee Univ., Knoxville (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-76ER02968
OSTI ID:
6665409
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/02968-T2; ON: DE87006859
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English