Electric field effects in the polymerization of α‐methylstyrene

Abstract

We here report the boron trifluoride diethyletherate initiated polymerization of a-methylstyrene in 1,2-dichIoroethane. With platinum foil electrodes and an applied electric field of 1-3 kV/cm, the initial rate of disappearance of monomer is the same in the absence or presence of the electric field. The rate of formation of polymer at high conversions, however, decreases when the electric field is imposed. The NMR, UV absorption, and fluorescence spectra of the polymers are affected by the field, whereas the IR, ESCA spectra, and melting point of the polymer are unaffected by the field. To probe the reasons for these field effects, we obtained oxidation and reduction potentials of monomer, solvent, and initiator by polarographic or cyclic voltammetric methods. All the components of the system were easily reduced or oxidized. Also, when the anode and cathode were separated by a sintered glass disk, the amount of polymer formed in the anode compartment was greater than that in the cathode compartment. These results suggest that the observed electric field effects are due to electrochemical reactions rather than to the second Wien effect.Recently Ise et al. '-'

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