CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS BY RADIATION-INDUCED POLYMERIZATION OF RING COMPOUNDS

It was found that ring compounds such as trioxane, BETA propiolactone, diketene, 3,3-bischloromethylcycloxabutane, and cyanuric chloride can be polymerized by ionizing radiation in the solid state. Moreover, when these monomers are irradiated in large crystalline state, the polymers obtained have higher melting point and better orientation than those obtained from sudden- cooled microcrystalline monomers. The polymers from large crystalline monomers have an outward appearance of large crystals as if order and orientation of monomers have been transferred directly to the polymers. X-ray diffraction photographs are made of the polymers after they are separated from residual monomers and dried. In all cases, polymers from large crystalline monomers have greater orientation as compared to polymers from sudden-cooled monomers. It is concluded that the structure of the monomer lattice has a great effect upon the propagation of solid-state polymerization. (JAIF)