Determination of Chain Transfer Constant for Solvent When the Viscosity of the Polymerizing System Is Considered Important

Abstract

The chain transfer constant of the polymethyl methacrylate radical for N,N-dimethylaniline was determined in two solvents, benzene and dimethyl phthalate. Plots were made using1/P_n=k_t°R_p/k_p ²[M]²η + C_S1 [S₁]/[M] + C_S2 [S₂]/[M] +C_M where η=viscosity of monomer-solvents mixture, k_t°=rate coefficient of termination when η=1 cP, S₁=benzene or dimethyl phthalate, S₂=N,N-dimethylaniline, and other symbols have their usual meanings. The plots agreed well for the two solvents. If the plots were made without considering the viscosity term, two separate lines resulted for the two solvents. Thus it is essential to consider the viscosity of the polymerizing system in the analysis of chain transfer reactions when the termination reaction is diffusion-controlled and the viscosities of the monomer and solvent differ markedly.