Radiation-Induced Polymerization of Ethyl Vinyl Ether in n-Pentane and Neopentane

Abstract
The radiation-induced polymerization of ethyl vinyl ether was studied in n-pentane and neopentane solutions under super-dry conditions. The free ion yields of these solvents are reported to be 0.16 and 1.0, respectively. The rate of polymerization in neopentane was about twice as fast as in n-pentane. The dose-rate dependence of the rate of polymerization was found to be nearly 0.50 in both solutions. It seems clear that the free solvent ions do, indeed contribute to the initiation. Regenerative chain transfer to monomer played a more important role in n-pentane than in neopentane as revealed by the molecular weight of the polymers.