Radiation-induced polymerization at high dose rate. VI. Butadiene in n-hexane solution

Polymerization of butadiene by electron-beam irradiation was studied in n-hexane solution. Kinetic features of the polymerization and microstructure of the product were similar to those in bulk polymerization, which indicated a cationic mechanism. Both the rate of polymerization and average molecular weight of the product decreased by about 20% in the solution system. Soluble polymer was obtained up to ca. 40% conversion at the monomer concentration of 50 mol%, whereas in the bulk system the gel formed in polymer conversion exceeded 10%. A kinetic equation was proposed to explain the change in rate of polymerization with the monomer concentration.