Synthesis of crystalline polyvinylcyclohexane

Abstract The least known field of stereospecific polymerization is the polymerization of vinylcycloalkanes. At the same time polyvinylalkanes and especially polyvinylcycloalkanes may be of considerable interest as a new class of crystalline polyvinyl compounds. With this in mind the synthesis of polyvinylcyclohexane has been carried out and its properties have been investigated. Polymerization of vinylcyclohexane takes place in the presence of titanium tetrachloride and isobutylaluminum or of chromium oxides on aluminum silicate. The polymer obtained with different catalysts and under varying conditions (temperature, solvent, catalyst concentration, etc.) according to x‐ray data has a high degree of crystallinity. The melting point is 325° and the intrinsic viscosity from 0.5 to 1.5. A characteristic feature is its good solubility in naphthenic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The structure of the polymer has been established and thermomechanical curves have been determined for polymers obtained on various catalysts.