Polymer Chemistry Laboratory
Experiment #5
Chain Growth Polymerization I: Polymerization of Polystyrene
1. Introduction
Polystyrene is formed by a polymerization method called chain-growth. In chain-growth polymerization monomers attach to an active chain one at a time, increasing the chain length one monomer at a time. This is the only way to continue chain growth. Chain growth is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Schematic of Chain Growth
High molecular weight is achieved quickly and the monomer concentration subsequently slowly and steadily decreases (shown to be opposite that of step growth in Figure 2). After the initial spike, the molecular weight stays approximately constant.
Figure 2: Degree of polymerization as a function of monomer conversion for a chain growth reaction.
This results in a product with a wide range of molecular weights. The average molecular weight builds up slowly through the entire polymerization and a high-molecular-weight product is only formed after a sufficiently long reaction time when the conversion is more than 98% (Figure 2).
There are four different ways to initiate chain-growth polymerization: free radical, cationic, anionic, and coordination. This synthesis used benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator to polymerize styrene monomer. First, the benzoyl peroxide must be split to become a peroxy radical. The chain is then initiated when a peroxy radical combines with a styrene monomer, forming an active center on the end opposite the initiator. Until termination, the chain continues to grow one styrene monomer at a time. The reaction used to form polystyrene in this lab is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Synthesis of Polystyrene
Industrially, polystyrene polymers are synthesized in a similar way that will be performed in this lab: benzoyl peroxide is used as an initiator in the polymerization process of styrene monomers. Commercial polystyrenes are a family of thermoplastic materials that possesses a wide range of properties suitable for many diverse applications. In the process economics of producing polystyrene, these properties depend on the recipe for the polymerization of styrene, the additives or impurities present in the polymer, and the fabrication methods that give the polymer its final form.
Some other examples of commercially produced polymers that are synthesized using free radical polymerization include poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
Table 1. Various commercial products of polymers with chain-growth and step-growth polymerization.
Chemicals Composition Commercial Name
(Company)
Polystyrene(PS) PS/PB Styron(Dow Chemical)
PS/SAN Lacqram(ATO)
Poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) PVC/EVA Levepren(Bayer)
Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) PMMA Acrypet(Mitsubishi Rayon)
Polyamide(Nylon 6,6) Nylon 6,6 SolarMax(DuPont)
2. Experimental Procedure
Important !!
1. Gloves, goggles, and lab aprons MUST be worn when handling hazardous chemicals.
2. Always work in the hood when working with volatile liquid chemicals and when performing an exothermic reaction.
3. Do not touch the hot plate with bare hands.
2.1 Polystyrene Polymerization
2.1.1 Materials
1. Styrene monomer (manufactured by Aldrich). The boiling point of the styrene monomer is 145 - 146 °C.
2. Benzoyl peroxide initiator (manufactured by Aldrich). Benzoyl peroxide decomposes with hemolytic cleavage of its oxygen-oxygen bond at a temperature between 80 and 90°C.
2.1.2 Experimental Procedure
1. If the styrene contains an inhibitor, the inhibitor must first be removed. To do this, measure 60 mL of inhibited styrene into a 250-mL separatory funnel and add 60 mL of 10% NaOH. Shake the contents several times while properly venting for 1 minute.
2. Separate the styrene from the separatory funnel and place into 100-mL beaker. Add
3. approximately 2 grams of calcium carbonate into the styrene and stir. This will dry your styrene.Weigh three portions of benzoyl peroxide initiator on a glassine weight paper: 100 mg, 250 mg, and 400 mg. The benzoyl peroxide initiator is white spherical solid particles.
(Note: Benzoyl peroxide is explosive. Use only the glassine weight paper provided in the lab. Benzoyl peroxide initiator would burn when in contact with any other types of weight paper. Avoid any source of heat when working with this material.)
4. Transfer the weighed initiator into separate 50 ml glass jars and label them: polymer 1 (100 mg), polymer 2 (250 mg), polymer 3 (400 mg).
(Note: Use only wet paper towels to clean up any wasted benzoyl peroxide. Wet the used paper towel completely before disposing it into the waste basket to avoid fire.)
5. Measure three portions of 15 ml of styrene monomer using a 25 ml graduated cylinder. Styrene monomer is a transparent and slightly viscous liquid.
(Note: Styrene monomer is harmful when inhaled. Handle this material in the hood.)
6. Pour the measured styrene monomer into each of the labeled glass jars that contain the be