The Electrochemical Bulk Polymerization of Acrylonitrile

The electrochemical polymerization of acrylonitrile containing quaternary salts was carried out without any solvent. When an electric current was passed through the solution, polymer formation occurred at cathode. As polyacrylonitrile is not soluble in its monomer, the cathode becomes heavily coated with yellow orange insoluble polymer mass during the course of electrolysis. The polymer yields increased with increasing impressed current levels but molecular weights of polymers decreased. Polymers of high average molecular weights (ca.10⁵) were obtained.The effects of reaction temperature, nature of supporting electrolytes and nature of electrode metals on the polymers yields and molecular weights were investigated. The polymerization mechanism is anionic.