Kinetic studies on the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran under high pressure

Abstract

The cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran initiated by triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate has been studied kinetically at 0℃ up to 2000kg/cm^2. The course of the reaction was followed by the thermal method, and the rate constants for the elementary reactions were determined. The volumes of activation for the initiation and propagation reaction were -5.0±1.9 and -10.5±2cm^3/mol in the region from 40 to 1000kg/cm^2. respectively. The volume change for the polymerization was -7.9cm^3/mol, and the Volume of activation for the depropagation reaction was calculated to be -2.6±2cm^3/mol.