A chemical compound used as a free radical initiator in polymerization reactions, abbreviated as AIBN and commonly used to start plastic and rubber manufacturing.
From 'azo-' (nitrogen-nitrogen bonds) + 'isobutyronitrile' (iso- + butyro- from butter/butyric acid + -nitrile, a carbon-nitrogen functional group). Created in mid-20th century polymer chemistry.
AIBN is like the match that starts the fire in plastics—when heated, it breaks apart and triggers chain reactions that transform liquid monomers into solid polymers used everywhere.
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