Effect of pyridine on the kinetics of polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by benzoyl peroxide and azobisisobutyronitrile at 60°C

Solution polymerization of MMA, with pyridine as the solvent and BZ₂O₂ and AIBN as thermal initiators, was studied kinetically at 60°C. The monomer exponent varied from 0.45 to 0.91 as [BZ₂O₂] was increased from 1 × 10^?2 to 30 × 10^?2 mole/liter in a concentration range of 8.3-4.6 mole/liter for MMA. For AIBN-initiated polymerization the monomer exponent remained constant at 0.69 as [AIBN] varied from 0.4 × 10^?2 to 1.0 × 10^?2 mole/liter in the same concentration range for MMA. The k²_p/k_t Value increased in both cases with an increase in pyridine concentration in the system. This was explained in terms of an increase in the k_p value, which was due presumably to the increased reactivity of the chain radicals by donor-acceptor interaction between the molecules of solvent pyridine and propagating PMMA radicals and in terms of lowering the k_t value for the diffusion-controlled termination reaction due to an increase in the medium viscosity and pyridine content.     

Studies on the kinetics of polymerization of vinyl acetate by benzoyl peroxide at 60° using pyridine as solvent

Kinetics of Bz₂O₂-initiated polymerization of VAC in pyridine at 60° were investigated. The polymerization was significantly retarded by pyridine. The monomer exponent decreased from 2.5 at a relatively low [Bz₂O₂] (1.0 × 10^?2 M) to 2.0 at [Bz₂O₂] ? 4.0 × 10^?2 M. The observed kinetic features were explained on the basis of degradative chain transfer and copolymerization with pyridine.     

Determination of rate constants of benzoyl peroxide and azobisisobutyronitrile dissociation via polymerization kinetics

A linear expression is derived from Tobolsky's equation related to the dead-end polymerization method to determine the rate constant for the initiator dissociation. This novel graphical method applies remarkably well to the kinetic data collected by dilatometry from the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile and benzoyl peroxide in toluene at 60°C. Results obtained for these two initiators are consistent with those published in the literature. Applicability of the method is confined to at least 5% and at most 13% decomposition of initiator. However, these limiting values are sensitive to the experimental techniques employed. The effects of induced decomposition of benzoyl peroxide and thermal polymerization of methyl methacrylate are shown to be negligible in the present investigations.     

Synthesis and characterisation of copolymers containing geraniol and styrene initiated by benzoyl peroxide

Alternating copolymer(s) containing geraniol and styrene sequences have been synthesized by using benzoyl peroxide as initiator in xylene at 80 °C. The copolymerisation follows ideal kinetics. The formation of the copolymer is confirmed by the presence of peaks at 7-7.5δ due to the phenyl group and 7-7.7δ due to the alcoholic group and 2900 cm⁻¹ due to the phenyl groups in the FTIR spectrum of the copolymer. The values of r₁(Sty)=0.76 and r₂(Ger)=0.03, calculated by the Kelen-Tüdos method, indicates some alternating nature of the copolymer. The glass transition temperature (T_g) found by differential scanning calorimetry, is 90 °C. The Alfrey-price Q-e parameters for geraniol are 0.221 and 0.649.     

Mechanism of the polymerization of trifluoroacetaldehyde initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile

The polymerization of fluoral initiated by the photolyzed decomposition of azobisisobutyronitrile at low temperature has been studied. Up to 2% conversion, the effect of radical scavengers and the order with respect to initiator and light intensity indicate that the reaction occurs by a conventional radical polymerization mechanism. At about 2% conversion autoacceleration sets in and the rates become irreproducible. This is explained by typical occlusion phenomena. Tracer studies show that polymer prepared at high conversion contains initiator fragments indicating that primary propagation is by monomer addition to radicals. The reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Improving the control of styrene polymerization at 60 °C using a dialkylated α‐hydrogenated nitroxide

A new dialkylated α‐hydrogenated linear nitroxide and the corresponding 1‐phenylethyl alkoxyamine were synthesized in two and three steps, respectively. The alkoxyamine was involved in the polymerization of styrene at 60 °C, and the in situ concentration of nitroxide was monitored by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The enhanced characteristics of these new alkylated alkoxyamine and nitroxide (k = 1.5 × 10^?4 s^?1 and k = 5.7 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 s^?1) yielded a monomer consumption one order of magnitude higher than styrene thermal polymerization. This resulted in well‐defined polystyrenes up to 70,000 g mol^?1 and the observation of a control occurring through the establishment of the radical persistent effect, that is, ln([M]₀/[M]) = t^2/3. Experimentally determined kinetic constants were involved in PREDICI modelings to investigate the influence of temperature and initial alkoxyamine concentration on the kinetics as well as on the livingness and the controlled character of the polymerization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Graft polymerization of styrene initiated by covalently bonded peroxide groups on silica

The graft polymerization of styrene initiated by immobilized peroxide groups was investigated. Three different types of modification reactions were used to introduce peroxide groups which are directly attached onto the surface of two different silica supports. Silanol groups were chlorinated using thionyl chloride or tetrachlorosilane. In another reaction pathway 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl chloride enabled the introduction of free acid chloride residues bonded onto the surface of silica. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was used to transform the chlorosilyl and the acid chloride groups into peroxide residues. In a further reaction step the covalently bonded peroxides initiated the polymerization of styrene to form grafted polystyrene directly attached onto the silica support. Solid-state 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric and scanning electron microscope measurements enabled a clear structure and property elucidation of the different bonded phases. The highest amount of grafted polystyrene was achieved employing the acid chloride synthesis pathway with silica-gel, whereas modification of spherical silica only led to minor amounts of grafted polymer. The results contribute to the evolving need to understand particle surface modifications and may have positive impact on development of new HPLC stationary phases for improved elutant resolution.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the emulsion polymerization of styrene in the aqueous media at 50°C and at low monomer concentration initiated by persulfate. I. Initiation

The mechanism of the water-soluble persulfate-initiated emulsion polymerization of styrene in the aqueous media at 50°C has been investigated kinetically by the conventional dilatometric and gravimetric methods at low concentration of the monomer (5% v/v). It has been found that the initial rate of polymerization V_p is approximately proportional to initiator concentration [I] to the 0.50 power, i.e., V_p ∝ [I]^0.50, and the viscosity-average molecular weight M _v is approximately inversely proportional to the 0.50 power of the initiator concentration, i.e., M _v ∝ [I]^?0.50. With the progress of the reaction, the initiator exponent of the reaction rate equation decreases gradually from 0.50 to 0.25, but that of the molecular weight (1) equation remains constant up to 20% conversion and thereafter begins to decrease. Since the kinetic data at zero conversion satisfy the steady-state kinetics of the free-radical-initiated homogeneous vinyl polymerization, it is suggested that the initiation of emulsion polymerization of styrene is a two-step process. It starts in the aqueous phase by the primary free radicals from the water-soluble initiator or secondary free radicals derived from the soap molecules. The second step occurs in the monomer-leaded micelles by the water-soluble or water-insoluble macroradicals or by radicals derived from the soap molecules. The latter are likely to be produced in the aqueous phase by the oxidation of soap with S₂O₈^2?ions or SO₄^? radicals. It has been noted that the rate of thermal decomposition of persulfate increases by a factor of 6–8 times under different experimental conditions in the presence of soap.     

Reactivity ratios of styrene and methyl methacrylate at 90°C

From the conversion–composition data of Gruber and Elias, the reactivity ratios of styrene (M₁) and methyl methacrylate (M₂) were calculated to be r₁ = 0.55 ± 0.02 and r₂ = 0.58 ± 0.06 at 90°C. The least-squares method was then used on these and literature values at other temperatures to obtain the Arrhenius expressions: In r₁ = 0.04736 – (235.45/T), and ln r₂ = 0.1183 – (285.36/T). Using literature values for the homopolymerization steps, A₁₁ = 2.2 × 10⁷l./mole-sec., E₁₁ = 7.8 kcal./mole, and A₂₂ = 0.51 × 10⁷ l./mole-sec.^?1, E₂₂ = 6.3 kcal./mole, activation energies and frequency factors were then calculated for the cross-polymerization steps: A₁₂ = 2.1 × 10⁷ l./mole-sec., E₁₂ = 7.3 kcal./mole, and A₂₁ = 0.45 × 10⁷ l./mole-sec., E₂₁ = 5.7 kcal./mole.     

Non-ideal kinetics in vinyl polymerization: Note on primary radical termination in benzoyl peroxide initiated polymerization of vinyl chloride in dichloroethane

The kinetics of vinyl chloride polymerization initiated by benzoyl peroxide doubly labelled with ¹⁴C and 'H were studied in 1,2-dichloroethane solution at 60°. The importance of primary radical termination in the polymerization is examined by kinetic analysis and by analysis of polymers for combined initiator fragments.     

Bulk polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole initiated by C60

In this communication, we first used [60]fullerene as initiator to initiate the bulk polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) monomer at 70°C (slightly higher than the melting point temperature, 65°C, of NVC). A reasonable polymerization reaction pathway via C₆₀-NVC ion-radical pairs is suggested. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3745–3747, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of copolymers of limonene with styrene initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile

The radical copolymerization of limonene with styrene by azobisisobutyronitrile in xylene at 80 ± 0.1 °C for 2 h, under inert atmosphere of N₂, yields alternating copolymers. The kinetic expression is R_p∝[I]^0.5[Sty]^1.0[Lim]^−1.0. The overall activation energy is calculated as 41 kJ/mol. The FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectra of copolymers show bands at 3000 and 1715 cm⁻¹ and peaks at 6.8 δ and 5.3 δ due to phenyl protons of styrene and trisubstituted olefinic protons of limonene, respectively. The values of reactivity ratios r₁(Sty)=0.0625 and r₂(Lim)=0.014, calculated by Kelen-Tüdos method. The Alfrey-Price Q-e parameters for limonene are 0.438 and −0.748, respectively. The penultimate unit effect is favoured in the present system and the value of φ is 38.49.     

Non-ideality in vinyl polymerization—VI: Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by benzoyl peroxide

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate in benzene was initiated by benzoyl peroxide and examined by kinetic analysis particularly from the point of view of primary radical termination. It is concluded that the velocity constant for dissociation of the benzoyloxy radical to give the phenyl radical is affected by the nature of the medium.     

Kinetics of polymerization of styrene initiated by substituted benzoyl peroxides. IV. Decomposition induced by substituted diethylanilines

Equilibrium complex formation between symmetrically substituted benzoyl peroxides and ring-substituted N,N-diethylanilines has been quantitatively measured. From the results the rate constant for the unimolecular decomposition of the complexes, producing an initiating free radical, is found to be approximately 10¹² exp {(–25 X 10³)/RT}. The data obtained are consistent with a previously postulated mechanism for radical production in the presence of vinyl monomers.     

Kinetics of polymerization initiated by peroxides containing heterocyclic groups. I. Kinetics of bulk polymerization of styrene and vinyl acetate initiated by difuroyl peroxide

The rate and degree of bulk polymerization of styrene and vinyl acetate initiated by difuroyl peroxide and, for comparison, by dilauroyl and dibenzoyl peroxides were measured at several temperatures as a function of the initiator concentration. Also the rates of initiation were determined by the inhibition method with Banfield's radicals. The rate of polymerization initiated by difuroyl peroxide appears to be lower than could be expected from the rate of initiation determined by the inhibition method and from the decomposition of difuroyl peroxide. In the case of polymerization of vinyl acetate there are significant deviations from the proportionality between R_p and the square root of the initiator concentration, which follows from the conventional kinetic scheme. The degrees of polymerization are also low, and the plots of P _n^?1 versus R_p are not linear. These deviations can be accounted for by postulating a retardation effect of the furan cycle and chain transfer to difuroyl peroxide.     

Study on thermal properties and kinetics of benzoyl peroxide by ARC and C80 methods

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) has been widely used in the industrial and food field, it is sensitive to shock, heat and friction, and causes thermal explosion incidents easily. Therefore, it is important to understand its thermal behaviors and kinetics for loss prevention and safety management. Two kinds of experimental methods (C80 calorimetry and accelerating rate calorimetry) were used to study the hazardous characteristics of BPO, and idea kinetic parameters, such as the pre-exponential factor and the activation energy were obtained. These results contribute to improve the safety in the reaction, transportation, and storage processes and help to the stability criterion of decomposition reaction of BPO.     

Non‐transition metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of vinyl chloride initiated with iodoform in water at 25 °C

Non‐transition metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization (LRP) of vinyl chloride (VC) in water at 25–35 °C is reported. This polymerization is initiated with iodoform and catalyzed by Na₂S₂O₄. In water, S₂O dissociates into SO that mediates the initiation and reactivation steps via a single electron transfer (SET) mechanism. The exchange between dormant and active propagating species also includes the degenerative chain transfer to dormant species (DT). In addition, the SO₂ released from SO during the SET process can add reversibly to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) radicals and provide additional transient dormant ～SO radicals. This novel LRP proceeds mostly by a combination of competitive SET and DT mechanisms and, therefore, it is called SET‐DTLRP. Telechelic PVC with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 2,000–55,000, containing two active ～CH₂? CHClI chain ends and a higher syndiotacticity than the commercial PVC were obtained by SET‐DTLRP. This PVC is free of structural defects and exhibits a higher thermal stability than commercial PVC. SET‐DTLRP of VC is carried out under reaction conditions related to those used for its commercial free‐radical polymerization. Consequently, SET‐DTLRP is of technological interest both as an alternative commercial method for the production of PVC with superior properties as well as for the synthesis of new PVC‐based architectures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6267–6282, 2004     

Solvent effect on the kinetics of the free-radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of fullerene C60

The induction period in the kinetic curves of styrene polymerization in the presence of fullerene C₆₀ was found to increase significantly at a solvent (benzene, toluene, ortho-dichlorobenzene, CCl₄) concentration of ≥50 mol %. The free-radical polymerization rates of styrene in the presence of fullerene C₆₀ and solvents, the ratio of chain propagation and termination rate constants k _p /k ₀ ^1/2 , and the stoichiometric inhibition coefficient were determined.