Bulk Polymerization of Styrene Using Benzyl Dithiobenzoate as a Chain Transfer

Bulk polymerization of styrene was carried out in the presence of a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) of benzyl dithiobenzoate (BDB). The comparison between reaction systems with and without BDB indicates that there is significant retardation in the reaction rate when BDB is used. The molecular weight of styrene polymer prepared with BDB shows linear relationship with the conversion of monomer, polydispersity is as narrow as 1.2, and no gel effects are observed during the polymerization with BDB, which are characteristics of a living radical polymerization. It has been found that the concentrations of BDB and azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) have opposite effects on the polymerization kinetics, and the AIBN dominates.