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The problem of shelf-life of polymerizable compounds is dealt with in conjunction with the problem of their processing. Kinetic parameters that characterize the polymerization of such compounds under storage conditions and the monomer processing have been analysed. Feasibility of a complex approach to the problem of shelf-life and processing of polymerizable compounds is shown using the example of the application of weak antioxidants. By increasing the antioxidant concentration the stability of the monomer is raised and the use of weak antioxidants facilitates monomer processing. The possibility to optimize the solution of problems connected with shelf-life of monomers and their processing has been shown. Values of parameters that characterize oxidative polymerization of methyl methacrylate, inhibited by several weak antioxidants have been determined along with the corresponding stoichiometric constants. The stoichiometric coefficient of an antioxidant has been found to depend on its concentration and on the rate of initiation.

The kinetics of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and dimethyltriethylene glycol (TGM-3) have been studied in the presence of oxygen and of an anti-oxidant (AO). The induction period depends on the monomer concentration in a closed system and increases with the AO content only in a relatively narrow range of concentration. A method is suggested for estimating the initiation rate of the polymerization. The ratio of the rate constant of the phenol inhibited reaction to that of a peroxide radical reaction with the monomer has been evaluated. The solubility of oxygen in MMA and TGM-3 has been determined.

The kinetics of polymerization in the presence of oxygen and inhibitors of the anti-oxidant type is considered. Equations for the rates of polymerization and oxidation of the monomer and for the consumption of the inhibitor are obtained for conditions of effective inhibition. Equations are obtained that determine the length of the induction period for the reaction occurring in enclosed or in open systems.

Equations have been obtained for the rate of oxidation and polymerization of a monomer, the induction period and other parameters of the reaction of polymerization occurring at any concentration of the antioxidant. The conditions in which the antioxidant acts as an oxygen co-inhibitor are defined. The values of the lower and upper limits of the concentration of antioxidant, the critical rate of initiation and the critical concentration of the monomer are established.

Equations are given for the estimation of the efficiency and time limits of gelling in the presence of kinetic chain transfer agents. The study results are reported of the gel formation by polyhydroxytetramethylene-α,ω-methacrylate of M = 700 (MTMH-700). The validity of the kinetics of gel formation for the experimental findings is analysed. The rate constant of the individual polymerization stages have been estimated.

The kinetics of gel formation have been examined and a quantitative analysis carried out of the dependence of polymer chain concentration on time and on the degree of conversion of polyfunctional vinyl compounds. At low conversions, the polymerizate has been found to consist only of monomer molecules, and virtually only a single growing super-macromolecule. The validity of the mathematical criterion d N/ dt , d N/ d M)=0, which had been earlier used to determine the limits of gel formation has been proved.

Polymerization processes in solid and highly viscous media are considered. It is supposed that many processes in solids are ratelimited by rotational diffusion related to conformational transitions of structure elements containing reaction centers. This supposition agrees well with data on radical combination kinetics and the overall kinetics of polymerization in solids.