The polymerization of styrene and some concepts of the electrical properties of plastics

It is generally accepted that the polymerization of styrene is a chain process involving 3 main stages: chain initiation, chain propagation and chain termination. The phenomena associated with these actions are discussed in some detail, with sp. ref. to substances capable of influencing the rate of the polymerization, by stepping up the formation of active centres, breaking up the active centres when formed or by breaking the chains subsequent to their formation. A brief description of the experimental technique employed in studying the processes is given. A short account is given of recent contributions to dielectric-loss theory, mainly from the standpoint of the relation betw. frequency and the complex permittivity, with an illustrative numerical example of the losses in a h.f. cable.