Chemistry Department, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Eire Ireland
Abstract:
Poly(propylene sulphide) (PPS) initiated by cadmium bis(phenyl allyl thiolate) was fractionated from benzene-methanol, and the fractions were examined by viscosity, osmotic pressure and light scattering determinations. Gel permeation chromatography with Styragel columns was found unsatisfactory in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and toluene at room temperature. Polymer stored in the dark at room temperature underwent a very slow degradation which broadened the distribution in the fractions. The following quantitative relationships were found at 25°C:Extrapolations to derive the unperturbed coil dimensions indicate a possible, but doubtful, solvent effect. The value derived from the θ-mixture gives and a steric factor σ = 1.49, consistent with a high ‘chain flexibility’ expected from the relatively long C-S-C linkages.
