Radiation‐induced solid‐state polymerization of trioxane under high pressure

Abstract The in‐source polymerization of trioxane in the solid state was investigated over a wide range of temperature and pressure, i.e., from 30 to 140°C and up to 7000 kg/cm2, respectively. In the polymerization that was carried out slightly below the melting point under pressure, the higher the pressure, the higher the rate of polymerization. It was confirmed that the maximum rate of solid‐state polymerization of trioxane occurs near the melting points, even under elevated pressure. The rate of polymerization decreased with increasing pressure at constant temperature. The shape of the time–conversion curves may be classified into two types, i.e., one which is typical of high pressure and low temperature, and the other which is typical of low pressure and high temperature. Changes in the shape of the conversion—intrinsic viscosity curves occurred coincidentally. Thus, three regions for the different “polymerization characteristic” were determined as functions of polymerization temperature and pressure. Explanations are given for the above‐mentioned polymerization characteristic.