Comparison of thermal polymerization mechanisms for alpha-methylstyrene and trans-beta-methylstyrene

Abstract

The polymerization mechanisms of styrene and various derivatives by alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) and trans-beta-methylstyrene (TBMS) were evaluated. Experiments were carried out for dimerization identification and thermal polymerization estimation by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal activity monitor (TAM) and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectrophotometer (FTIR). The results show that, under temperature ranges of 60-190 and 50-170C, AMS and TBMS performed dimerization by benzene ring and ethylene double bond, respectively. AMS and TBMS would form unsaturated dimers, saturated dimers and trimers, etc., during the period of thermal polymerization. Through this study, one can estimate possible intermediates of the polymerization process for the monomer of interest in the petrochemical industry.