Chain transfer

[5] They were studying the production of polyethylene [(C2H4)n] from ethylene [C2H4] and hydrogen [H2] in the presence of ethyl radicals that had been generated by the thermal decomposition of (Et)2Hg and (Et)4Pb.

The first widespread use of chain transfer agents came during World War II in the US Rubber Reserve Company.

Although German scientists had become familiar with the actions of chain transfer agents in the 1930s,[8] Germany continued to make unmodified rubber to the end of the war and did not fully exploit their knowledge.

Snyder et al. proved the sulfur from a mercaptan modifier did indeed become incorporated into a polymer chain under the conditions of bulk or emulsion polymerization.

[9] A series of papers from Frank R. Mayo (at the U.S. Rubber Co.) laid the foundation for determining the rates of chain transfer reactions.

[10][11][12] In the early 1950s, workers at DuPont conclusively demonstrated that short and long branching in polyethylene was due to two different mechanisms of chain transfer to polymer.

Chain transfer from polypropylene to monomer.

Chain transfer from polypropylene to backbone of another polypropylene.

Chain transfer from polystyrene to solvent.