Determination of the rate constants of recombination of macroradicals and stable radicals via the competitive-inhibition method

The rate constants of recombination, k _X, of propagating radicals with nitroxides in pseudoliving radical polymerization are determined via the competitive-inhibition method with the use of ESR spectroscopy. This method is applicable to determination of k _X in the reactions of propagating radicals of styrene, acrylic acid, and methyl methacrylate with two stable radicals, the nitroxide diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl nitroxide and the phenoxide galvinoxyl. The values of k _X determined at 50°C increase in the following sequence: diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl nitroxide-TEMPO-galvinoxyl. The selectivity of the low-activity propagating radicals of styrene in reactions with stable radicals is shown.     

Polymerization of neat 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate induced by a pulsed electron beam

The bulk polymerization of 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (2‐EHA), induced by a pulsed electron beam, was investigated with pulse radiolysis, gravimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The roles of the dose rate, pulse frequency, and added acrylic acid (AA) in the polymerization of 2‐EHA were examined at ambient temperature. In the range of 12.6–71.2 Gy/pulse, the polymerization of 2‐EHA was dose‐rate‐dependent: at the same total dose, a lower dose rate yielded a higher conversion. Also, a lower pulse rate gave a higher conversion at the same total dose. The addition of up to 10 wt % AA showed no increase in the conversion of 2‐EHA at a low conversion (8 kGy), but at a higher conversion (16 kGy), a 20 wt % increase in the conversion of 2‐EHA was observed. The estimated values (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10^?3 (dm³ s)^3/2 mol^?1 s^?1/2 for k_p(G/2k_t)^1/2 and 2.6 ± 0.8 dm³ s J^?1 for 2k_tG (where k_p is the rate constant of propagation, k_t is the rate constant of bimolecular termination, and G is the yield of free radicals) were obtained at relatively low conversions. The reaction rate constant of the addition of 2‐EHA^· free radicals to the monomer was measured by pulse radiolysis and found to be 2.8 × 10² mol^?1 dm³ s^?1. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 196–203, 2003     

Polymerisation radiochimique de l'acide acrylique en solution dans l'alcool isopropylique et le dimethylformamide

The radiation-induced polymerization of acrylic acid in isopropyl alcohol and dimethylformamide solutions was investigated between?196°and40°. Mixtures which form glasses at low temperatures exhibit a maximum in the rate of polymerization at 30° and 50° above the glass transition temperature (T_g). The difference between the most favourable temperature for polymerization and T_g is larger than in systems studied previously. This fact could be due to the presence of H-bonded aggregates.The study of the polymerization of acrylic acid in dimethylformamide solution at 20° led to a correlation between this reaction and the presence of plurimolecular aggregates. The very high polymerization rate and the syndiotacticity of the resulting poly(acrylic acid) confirm the earlier assumption of a favourable orientation for propagation of the molecules of acrylic acid in these aggregates.     

Amine activators for the “cool” peroxide initiated polymerization of acrylic monomers

Two tertiary amines with a chemical structure rather similar to dimethyl-4-toluidine have been prepared and tested as activators for the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. 4-Dimethylaminobenzyl alcohol, DMOH, was synthesized by reduction of the corresponding benzaldehyde. 4-Dimethylaminobenzyl methacrylate, DMMO, was synthesized by condensation of methacryloyl chloride with DMOH in the presence of triethylamine as catalyst. Kinetic studies of the bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the redox system BPO–amine have been carried out by differential scanning calorimetry at different temperatures in the interval 30–40°C. An increase of the overall rate constant, k, with increasing temperature was observed for all redox systems. The system BPO/DMT gave the highest values of k. The polymerizations catalyzed by DMOH and DMMO respectively gave lower values of the overall Arrhenius activation than that obtained with DMT. DMMO may participate in the polymerization not only as activator but also as an acrylic derivative which can be incorporated into the polymeric growing chains during the propagation step of the free radical polymerization. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Study of high-energy radiation initiated polymerization of butyl acrylate

The kinetics and mechanism of the first steps of radiation initiated polymerization was studied in cyclohexane solution of butyl acrylate applying pulse radiolysis with optical detection. By increasing the monomer concentration, the shape and wavelength of the maximum of the spectrum was changed indicating the start of the oligomerization reaction. From the kinetic curves average rate coefficients of termination for the oligomer radicals (2k_t) were determined. They were found to decrease in time (that is with increasing chain-length).     

Single‐pulse pulsed laser polymerization–electron paramagnetic resonance investigations into the termination kinetics of n‐butyl acrylate macromonomers

The termination of model mid‐chain radicals (MCRs), which mimic radicals that occur in acrylate polymerization over a broad range of reaction conditions, has been studied by single‐pulse pulsed laser polymerization (SP‐PLP) in conjunction with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The model radicals were generated by initiator‐fragment addition to acrylic macromonomers that were preformed prior to the kinetic experiments, thus enabling separation of termination from the propagation reaction, for these model radicals propagate sparingly, if at all, on the timescale of SP‐PLP experiments. Termination rate coefficients of the MCRs were determined in the temperature range of 0–60°C in acetonitrile and butyl propionate solution as well as in bulk macromonomer over the range of 0–100 °C. Termination rate coefficients slightly below those of the corresponding secondary radicals were deduced, demonstrating the relatively high termination activity of this species, even when undergoing MCR–MCR termination. For chain length of 10, a reduction by a factor of 6 is observed. Unusually high activation energies were found for the termination rate coefficient in these systems, with 35 kJ mol^?1 being determined for bulk macromonomer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Radiation-induced polymerization of acrylic acid in aqueous solution

Aqueous acrylic acid in the presence of cupric chloride has been subjected to γ-irradiation under various reaction conditions and the molecular weights of the resultant poly(acrylic acid) measured. The results, taken in conjunction with previous findings on the dependence of the rate of polymerization on intensity, monomer concentration, and cupric chloride concentration, indicate chain termination solely by cupric ion (rate constant k_tCu) and chain transfer to polymer (rate constant kf). Values have been obtained for k_tCu/k_p, k_f/k_p and G(radical) of acrylic acid. On the basis of these data a theoretical chain-length distribution has been derived which agrees well with distribution measured by gel-permeation chromatography.     

Polymerization of acrylamide in various solvents in the presence of Lewis acids

The radical polymerization of acrylamide in various solvents in the presence of Lewis acids has been investigated. Considerable effects of LiBr, LiCl and CaCl₂ on the total reaction rate and the values of k_p and k₁ for polymerization in DMSO or THF have been shown. For the polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous solution, addition of the salts does not affect the kinetic behaviour of the process. The observed effect of salts arises from complexation between the salt and the monomer and/or the propagating radicals.     

Determination of Kinetic Parameters of Ethyl Methacrylate Polymerization Initiated by the Redox Pair SO2-tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

Abstract

In the bulk polymerization of ethyl methacrylate with the redox initiator pair sulfur dioxide-tert-butyl hydroperoxide (SO₂-TBHP), the kinetic parameters were determined by the dead-end polymerization technique using the dilatometric method. Polymerization was conducted with various initiator pair compositions in the temperature interval of 12–35°C. An activation energy of 14.1 kJ/mol for [SO₂]/[TBHP] = 0.44 was determined for this temperature range. The values of k ² _p/k _t obtained in this study were in the interval 1.34 × 10^?4 to 1.11 × 10^?3 L/mol·s. The f/k _d ratios for the redox pair at different temperatures and for different initiator ratios were also calculated. The f/k _d ratios of the initiator pair changed between 15.1 and 187.6 seconds. The wide variations in these kinetic parameters were explained on the basis of competitive reactions between the redox pair and their reaction products.     

Vinyl polymerization initiated by peroxydiphosphate. XII. Polymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid by peroxydiphosphate–sodium thiosulfate redox system

The aqueous polymerization of acrylic acid and acrylamide initiated by peroxydiphosphate–sodium thiosulfate redox system was investigated within the temperature range of 25–35°C. The rates of polymerization were measured at different concentrations of oxidant, activator and monomer. The monomer and the initiator exponents were evaluated to be 1.12 and 0.51. The rate of polymerization decreases with increasing thiosulfate concentration. On the basis of the experimental observation of the dependence of the rate of polymerization, R_p, on various variables, a suitable kinetic scheme has been proposed and the rate parameters have been evaluated.     

A comparison of the absolute reactivity of vinyl monomers. I. Kinetic studies on radical polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by a Mn3+–diglycolic acid redox system

The kinetics of polymerization of acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by the redox system Mn³⁺–diglycolic acid (DGA) was studied. All three systems followed the same mechanism; namely, initiation by an organic free radical arising from the oxidation of diglycolic acid and termination by the interaction of polymer radicals with Mn³⁺ ion. The rate coefficients k_i/k₀ and k_p/k_t were related to monomer and polymer radical reactivity, respectively. An inverse relation between monomer and polymer radical reactivity was observed. Monomers with higher Q values gave higher k_i/k₀ values but lower k_p/k_t values. The e values of the monomers were important in determining the reactivities of monomers with nearly the same Q values.     

Rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with 2-methyl-2-butene over the temperature range 297–425 K

Absolute rate constants, k₂, for the reaction of OH radicals with 2-methyl-2-butene have been determined over the temperature range 297–425 K using a flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence technique. The Arrhenius expression obtained was k₂ = 3.6 × 10^?11 exp [(450 ± 400)/RT] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1.     

Radiation-induced copolymerization of methyl trifluoroacrylate with propylene

Copolymerization of methyl trifluoroacrylate (MTFA) with propylene in bulk was induced by γ irradiation. A wide range of the initial monomer composition gives an equimolar alternating co-polymer. The reactivity ratios of r₁ (MTFA) and r₂ (propylene) were determined to be 0.01 and 0.005, respectively. The polymerization rate at an equimolar monomer composition is proportional to the 1.0 power of the dose rate. The dose rate dependency of higher than 0.5 may be ascribed to unimolecular termination due to a degradative chain transfer of propagating radicals to propylene. The G values of the initiating radical formation and the polymerization reaction were calculated to be 1.78 and 1336, respectively. The dependence of the copolymerization rate on the temperature was small, and the activation energy of copolymerization was 1.1 kcal/mole from ?6 to 50°C.     

Propagation rate constant in cationic polymerization of cyclic dienes. I. Polymerization of cyclopentadiene with titanium tetrachloride–trichloroacetic acid

Cationic polymerization of cyclopentadiene induced by titanium tetrachloride–trichloroacetic acid was investigated in a toluene solution at ?69 to ?77°C. All manipulations were handled under vacuum conditions. Time–conversion curves were determined accurately by following the exothermicity of the fast reaction in an adiabatic system. The polymerization kinetics were developed on the basis of a fast initiation reaction and a nonstationary-state concentration (diminishing concentration) of active species, and the propagation rate constant k₂ was determined by substituting either an initial rate of polymerization or a final conversion for the kinetic equations. k₂ for the present system was determined to be 350 l./mole-sec, which is larger than those so far reported for some vinyl monomers in cationic polymerization. The present method can be commonly applied to reactive monomers for the determination of k₂. The nature of termination reaction is discussed in connection with the determination of k₂.     

Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated by the Redox System,K2S2O8-Citric Acid Catalyzed by Silver Ion

The polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by the redox system K₂S₂O₈-citric acid catalyzed by Ag⁺ ion has been studied over the temperature range 35–50°C. The rate of polymerization is proportional to the square root of peroxydisulfate concentration. The initial rate increases with increasing citric acid concentration, but at relatively higher concentration of citric acid the rate decreases. The rate of polymerization also increases with increasing monomer concentration and temperature. The overall activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius plot was found to be 4.6 kcal/mole. On the basis of the observation, a suitable kinetic scheme has been proposed for the reaction.     

Synthesis of perm-selective membranes by grafting acrylic acid into air-irradiated Teflon-FEP films

Grafting acrylic acid into air-irradiated Teflon-FEP films was investigated. Pre-irradiation doses ranged from 0.5 to 10 kGy. Grafting occurred at 45 or 60°C. Homopolymerization inhibitors, ferrous ions or methylene blue, were added to the system. It was found that after completion of the reaction, within 40–100 min, membranes were obtained with very low electric resistivities. The influence of added inhibitors, pre-irradiation dose and grafting temperature was studied. From the results it is concluded that the initiating centers in air-irradiated Teflon-FEP are, on the one hand, peroxides of structure POOP′, in which P is a polymeric radical and Pprime; a small fragment, and on the other trapped PO^.₂ radicals. The latter only react after losing their oxygen. In the presence of polymerization inhibitors, initiation involves a redox process which reduces the overall activation energy.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate

The kinetics of the initiated oxidation of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate in the liquid phase were studied volumetrically by measuring oxygen uptake during the reaction. Both processes proceed via the chain mechanism with quadratic-law chain termination. The oxidation rate is described by the equation w = k ₂/(2k ₆)^1/2[monomer]w _i ^1/2 , where w _i is the initiation rate and k ₂ and k ₆ are the rate constants of chain propagation and termination. The parameter k ₂/(2k ₆)^1/2 is 7.58 × 10^?4 (l mol^?1 s^?1)^1/2 for acrylic acid oxidation and 2.09 × 10^?3 (l mol^?1 s^?1)^1/2 for the oxidation of methyl methacrylate (T = 333 K). For the oxidation of acrylic acid, k ₂ = 2.84 l mol^?1 s^?1 (T = 333 K) and the activation energy is E ₂ = 54.5 kJ/mol; for methyl methacrylate oxidation, k ₂ = 2.96 l mol^?1 s^?1 (T = 333 K) and E ₂ = 54.4 kJ/mol. The enthalpies of the reactions of RO ₂ ^? with acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate were calculated, and their activation energies were determined by the intersecting parabolas method. The contribution from the polar interaction to the activation energy was determined by comparing experimental and calculated E ₂ values: ΔE _μ = 5.7 kJ/mol for the reaction of RO ₂ ^? with acrylic acid and ΔE _μ = 0.9 kJ/mol for the reaction of RO ₂ ^? with methyl methacrylate. Experiments on the spontaneous oxidation of acrylic acid provided an estimate of the rate of chain initiation via the reaction of oxygen with the monomer: w _i,0 = (3.51 ± 0.85) × 10^?11 mol l^?1 s^?1 (T = 333 K).     

Kinetics of the reaction CH + N2 rarr; [M]⇒[M] products in the range 10–620 torr and 298–1059 K

The gas-phase reaction of CH(X² Π) radicals with molecular nitrogen was studied in the temperature range 298–1059 K at total pressures between 10 and 620 torr. CH radicals were generated by excimer laser photolysis of CHCIBr₂ at 248 nm and were detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The investigated reaction shows a strong temperature and pressure dependence. At pressures of 20, 100, and 620 torr the Arrhenius plots exhibit a strong decrease of the rate constant with increasing temperature. The rate constant is well described by, with E₀ in kJ/mol. The pressure dependence was studied at temperatures of 298, 410, 561, and 750 K. The rate constants for each temperature were fitted by the Troe formalism. From the calculated values of k₀ and k_infinity, the Arrhenius expressions, were obtained with E₀ (k₀) and E_A (k_infinity) in units of kJ/mol. Within the range of 298–750 K the temperature dependence of the broadening factor is well described by F_c = 0.029 + (173.3/T). © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence des associations moleculaires sur la copolymerisation de l'acide acrylique avec l'acide methacrylique et avec l'acrylate de methyle

The copolymerization of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid in bulk is investigated at 40 and 60°. It is confirmed that a “matrix effect” occurs only for high contents of acrylic acid. The critical concentration beyond which the matrix effect disappears is shifted towards lower acrylic acid contents for higher temperatures. The copolymer composition is independent of temperature. The copolymerization of acrylic acid with methyl acrylate is investigated in a mixture which determines an “exaltation of the matrix effect” in the homopolymerization of acrylic acid (molar fractions: m_Monomers = 0.34; m_n-Hexane = 0.52; m_Methanol = 0.14). The resulting copolymers are found to contain a much larger fraction of acrylic acid residues than the copolymers formed in bulk or in toluene or DMF solutions.     

Radiation polymerization of methacrylates controlled by a chain transfer catalyst

The effect of γ-radiation dose and chain transfer catalyst on polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and copolymerization of MMA with hydroxyethyl methacrylate or triethylene glycol dimethacrylate has been investigated. The addition of 5 × 10^?4?10^?3 mol/L of bis[(difluoroboryl) isopropylpyridine dimethylglyoximato]cobalt(II) (Co(II)) makes it possible to produce macromonomers MM _n ⁼⁼ bearing terminal double bonds and having a degree polymerization of n = 2?40 and a polydispersity index of 1.05?1.15. It has been found that the degree polymerization of the macromonomers increases with the increasing γ-radiation dose and monomer conversion through the mechanism of the reversible β-cleavage of the terminal unit: R _k ^? + MM _n ⁼ ? MM _k+1 ⁼ + R _n-1 ^? followed by the living polymerization of both radicals. This reaction may compete with the catalytic chain transfer reaction and have a significant effect on the evolution of the molecular weight characteristics of the macromonomers during the course of MMA (co)polymerization.