Studies on chlorinated polyethylenes. I. Infrared spectra of chlorinated polyethylenes

The infrared absorption spectra of chlorinated polyethylenes with various amounts of combined chlorine have been investigated, and some data on the mechanism of addition of chlorine to the polyethylene molecule has been studied. When polyethylene is chlorinated in carbon tetrachloride solution at 70°C. by chlorine gas, CH₂CHCl and the CHClCHCl units are formed in the main carbon chain, but formation of the CCl₂ units could not be detected by the present infrared spectral study.