Dialkyl peroxydicarbonates. organic peroxide

The family of dialkyl peroxides includes dicumyl peroxide, which accounts for one-third of the volume of dialkyls world-wide and is the workhorse of this family of peroxides. Dicumyl peroxide is commonly used as a catalyst in polyester resin systans and for cross-linking polyethylene. Benzoyl peroxide is the most common of the diacyl peroxides. It is also used as a catalyst for curing polyester resins. Hydroperoxides are generally used as a raw material to produce other organic peroxides. The most common peroxides in this family include cumene hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide. Ketone peroxides are mixtures of peroxides and hydroperoxides that are commonly used for room-temperature curing of polyester resins. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is the major product in this family. Peroxydicarbonates are largely used to initiate polymerization of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 

Organic peroxides act through the splitting of the —0—0— bond into free radicals, thereby initiating the polymerization or crosslinking of monomers or polymers. Their exceptionally broad line includes diacyl peroxides, dialkyl peroxides, hydroperoxides, ketone peroxides, peroxyketals, peroxydicarbonates, and peroxyesters. The last two are particularly important in PVC resin manufacture as initiators in the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. 

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