AbstractThe polymerization of styrene in bulk at pressures up to 273 MPa and temperatures between 3 and 49°C with the use of γ‐radiation as the initiator has been studied. The polymerization rate and the molecular weight of the polymer increased with increasing pressure; the molecular weight increased at a slightly faster rate. The difference in the rate is a theoretical expectation which has not previously been observed because chain‐transfer reactions obscure the effect in chemically initiated systems. A small but significant retardation of the initiation reaction occurs as the pressure is increased. The results of previous workers are critically reviewed. Chain transfer at 25°C for pressures below 220 MPa is negligible when γ‐radiation is the initiator. The activation energy for bulk polymerization decreased with increasing pressure from 28.1 kJ/mole at 0.1013 MPa to 22.3 kJ/mole at 203 MPa. Volumes of activation at 25°C for 0.1013