Electron spin resonance studies of radicals trapped in polymers

Elelctron spin resonance measurements have been used to follow radical concentrations in the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and glycol dimethacrylate at 23 and 0°C. and the decay of such radicals. The results have been interpreted to give a qualitative picture of the radical trapping process. It has also been shown that the allyl group in allyl methacrylate is comparatively unreactive and does not take much part in either the polymerization of this monomer or its copolymerization with glycol dimethacrylate. Acrylonitrile and α-methyl acrylonitrile have been shown to give different electron spin resonance spectra illustrating the effect of a chain methyl group. This parallels electron resonance studies of γ-irradiated acrylates and methacrylates.