Chain Transfer of Alcohols in the Polymerization of Acrylic Esters

Transfer constants were determined from the thermal polymerization of methyl, ethyl, and butyl acrylates for methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl alcohols at 80 C, utilising mixed-solvent systems wherever necessary. It was observed that the chain transfer constant for alcohols is not much affected by lengthening of the ester group in the acrylates, and the reactivity of the solvent is enhanced by an increased substitution at the \alpha-carbon atom in the alkyl group