Controlled radical polymerization of acrylates by γ-irradiation in the presence of 1,1-diphenylethene

Poly (butyl acrylate) and poly (methyl acrylate) were successfully prepared in the presence of 1,1-diphenylethene (DPE) by γ-irradiation-induced polymerization in both bulk and solution. The influences of polymerization time, amounts of DPE in system on conversion, molecular weight (MW) and its distribution (Mw/Mn) were studied. The results indicate that the polymerization initiated by γ-irradiation in the presence of DPE shows the character of living radical reaction.