Midchain transfer to polymer in styrene-poly(butyl acrylate) systems: direct evidence of retardative effects

Branching in poly(butyl acrylate) (polyBA) systems is a well-accepted process that occurs via two reactions: a bimolecular reaction, intermolecular chain transfer by hydrogen atom abstraction (long chain branching, LCB), and a unimolecular reaction, intramolecular “backbiting” (short chain branching, SCB). The relative amount of each type of branching depends on the monomer-polymer ratio.