Kationische polymerisation des styrols mit CF3SO3H als katalysator: Der einfluß der trocknungsmethode des lösungsmittels auf die polymerisation

The solution polymerization of styrene in methylene dichloride catalysed by trifluoromethanesulfonic acid takes place at a high rate even at low catalyst concentration. The S-shaped course of the conversion curves is explained by a reaction mechanism, in which the catalyst rapidly forms an inactive complex with one monomer molecule, and this monomer-acid complex is in equilibrium with the free catalyst molecule from which the propagating species are formed. Therefore, the formation of active initiating species becomes a slow process which depends also on the change of monomer concentration during polymerization. It is assumed that the active initiating species are formed from two or three m…