Polymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid photoinitiated by diazidotetramminecobalt (III) azide

The kinetics of polymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid in aqueous solution photoinitiated by the complex, diazidotetramminecobalt(III) was systematically studied at 35°C and pH = 3. Monochromatic radiation at γ = 365, 405, and 435 mμ was employed. The kinetics of polymerization were followed by measurements of the rates of monomer disappearance (bromometrically) and complex disappearance (spectrophotometrically) and the chainlengths of the polymers formed (viscometrically). The dependences of the rate of polymerization on variables like light intensity, light absorption by the complex, wavelength, monomer concentration, and hydrogen ion concentration were studied. The rates of polymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid were found to be propertional to the square of the monomer concentration and to the first power of light absorption fraction k_e and light intensity I. A kinetic scheme is proposed in the light of experimental results involving (1) a primary photochemical act of excitation of the complex, followed by the dark reaction of electron transfer within the complex producing the azide radical; (2) initiation of polymerization by the azide radical; (3) termination of the chain process by the complex molecule.     

Vinyl polymerization photosensitized by anthraquinone sulfonates in aqueous solutions

The kinetics of the photopolymerization of the vinyl monomers MMA and MA sensitized by anthraquinone sulfonate-NaCl-HClO₄ systems have been studied systematically. The wavelength 365 mμ was used for irradiation. Sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate and disodium anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate were used as sensitizers, and all experiments were conducted in deaerated conditions. The polymerization was followed by the measurement of monomer disappearance (gravimetrically), rate of sensitizer disappearance (spectrophotometrically) and the chainlength of the polymer formed (viscometrically). Monomer concentration, k_ε, [NaCl], and I were varied. In the light of the experimental results a prima facie kinetic scheme was proposed. The specific rate constants for the various steps have been evaluated.     

Vinyl polymerization by a manganese(III) complex

Bis(diethanolamine) manganate(III) was prepared. The polymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide initiated by this complex in aqueous solution at pH 0.9 was studied at 45°. The rate of polymerization was followed by bromometry, the rate of complex disappearance spectrophotometrically and the molecular weights of the polymers were determined viscometrically. The rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to [Monomer]^1.0. The order with respect to initiator was found to be 0.5 for acrylamide and 0.3 for methacrylamide. The apparent overall activation energies for the polymerizations are ?87 kJ mol^?1 and ?59 kJ mol^?1 for acrylamide and methacrylamide respectively. A kinetic reaction scheme is proposed on the basis of the experimental data; kinetic parameters have been evaluated.     

Photopolymerization of Acrylonitrile by Potassium TrisoxalatocobaItate(III) in Aqueous Perchloric Acid

Results of a kinetic study on photopolymerization of acrylonitrile by potassium trisoxalatocobaltate(II1) in aqueous perchloric acid medium (pH = 1) by use of light of 365 nm wavelength at 30 |Mg 0.1°C are presented. All reactions were carried out under completely deaerated conditions. Certain important features of the photopolymerization are described. The rate of polymerization R_p was followed by gravimetric estimation of polymer formed and rate of disappearance of complex - R_c by spectrocolorometric estimation of complex disappearing. R_p was found to be directly proportional to [M]^3/2, k_ε ^1/2, and I^1/2, where P[M], k_ε, and I refer to concentration of acrylonitrile, light absorption fraction of the complex, and light intensity, respectively. -R_c was found to be directly proportional to k_ε and I. A reaction scheme is drawn and kinetic expressions derived on the basis of that scheme are given.     

Kinetics of photopolymerization of acrylamide initiated by copper (II)–bis(amino acid) chelates in aqueous solution. II

The kinetics of photopolymerization reactions of acrylamide initiated by copper (II)–bis(amino acid) chelates with amino acids glutamic acid, serine, or valine were studied at 30°C. The extent of monomer conversion increases with increased initiator concentration and falls off after reaching a maximum. Analysis of the results shows that for lower concentrations of the initiator, the rate of monomer disappearance is proportional to light absorption fraction f[monomer] and the square root of the intensity. At higher concentrations of the initiator, the rate of monomer disappearance is proportional to F_ε/[initiator]^1/2; the monomer exponent is 1.5 and the intensity exponent 0.5. Mutual termination of the radicals is proposed at lower concentrations of the initiator; at higher concentrations of the initiator termination of the initiator radical by the copper (II) complex along with mutual termination occurs. The initiator radical species is identified from flash photolysis studies of these complexes as the Cu(I)-coordinated radical. The effect of pH on the monomer conversion is explained. The data indicate a free-radical mechanism of polymerization and a reaction scheme is proposed for the polymerization reactions.     

Kinetic studies on the radical polymerization of acrylamide initiated by Mn3+–ethoxyacetic acid redox system

The kinetics of polymerization of acrylamide (AM) initiated by manganese(III) acetate–ethoxyacetic acid (EAA) redox system in aqueous sulphuric acid was investigated in the temperature range 35–45°C. The effects of variations in [monomer], [Mn³⁺], [EAA], [H⁺], and ionic strength on the rates of monomer disappearance (R_p) and Mn³⁺ disappearance (?R_m) were studied. The polymerization process is initiated by the free radical arising from the oxidation of ethoxyacetic acid by Mn³⁺ and terminated by the mutual combination of growing polymer radicals. Based on the kinetic results, a suitable reaction scheme is proposed and the rate expressions are derived. The study on degree of polymerization supports the proposed scheme for polymerization. The various rate and thermodynamic parameters are evaluated.     

Aqueous polymerization of acrylamide initiated by cerium (IV)–ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid redox system

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) terminated polyacrylamide was obtained by using the EDTA–cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate [Ce(IV)] redox initiator in the aqueous polymerization of acrylamide. The polymerization behaviors as a function of the concentration of Ce(IV), EDTA, and acrylamide as well as temperature were studied. The consumption rate of cerium(IV) depends a first-order reaction on the ceric ion concentration ([Ce(IV)]). The complex formation constant (K) and disproportionation constant (k_d) of Ce(IV)–EDTA chelated complex are 1.67 × 10⁴ and 3.77 × 10^?3, respectively. The rate dependences of polymerization on monomer concentration and EDTA concentration both follow a second-order reaction in the run of initial monomer concentration ([M]_i) equal to 0.2 mol dm^?3. The number average molecular weight increases linearly with the ratio of [M]_i/[Ce(IV)]_i. The mechanism and kinetics for the polymerization was proposed. The kinetic parameters involved were determined. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oxidative polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of thioglycolic acid

Chemical polymerization of acrylamide at room temperature was examined by using thioglycolic acid-cerium (IV) sulfate and thioglycolic acid-KMnO₄ redox systems in acid aqueous medium. Water soluble polyacrylamides containing thioglycolic acid end groups were synthesized. The effects of the molar ratio of acrylamide to Ce(IV) n _AAm /n _Ce(IV) , the polymerization time, the temperature, the monomer concentration, the molar ratio of cerium (IV) sulfate to thioglycolic acid and the concentration of sulfuric acid on the yield and molecular weight of polymer were investigated. Lower molar ratios of acrylamide/Ce(IV) at constant monomer concentration resulted in an increase in the yield but a decrease in molecular weight of polymer. The increase of reaction temperature from 20 to 70°C resulted in a decrease in the yield but generally resulted in a constant value for the molecular weight of polymer. With increasing polymerization time, the yield and molecular weight of polymer did not change substantially. Ce(IV) and Mn(VII) ions are reduced to Ce(III) and Mn(II) ions respectively in the polymerization reaction. The existence of Ce(III) ion bound to polymer was investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometry and fluoresce measurements. The amount of Mn(II) incorporated into the polymer was determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.     

Dye-sensitized photopolymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of ascorbic acid–sodium hydrogen orthophosphate complex

The kinetics of photopolymerization of vinyl monomers (methyl methacrylate, methylacrylate, and acrylonitrile) sensitized by the dyes acridine orange, dahlia violet, rose bengal and Pyronine G have been studied systematically. Systems containing dye, reducing agent, and monomer were irradiated with light of wavelengths 365 mμ, 546 mμ, and 405 mμ. The induction period was kept to a minimum by suitable experimental conditions. All experiments were conducted under deaerated conditions. The complex, AA–B, formed between ascorbic acid and sodium hydrogen orthophosphate (of the buffer) and reported earlier from our laboratory, played an important role in the production of the free radicals. The course of the polymerization reaction was followed by the measurements of rate of monomer disappearance ?d[M]/dt (gravimetrically), rate of dye disappearance ?d[D]/dt (spectrophotometrically), and the chainlengths n, of the polymer formed (viscometrically); light intensity, light wavelength, and concentrations of the dye, reducing agent, and monomer were the various variables for these measurements. A tentative scheme based on the excitation of the dye in the primary photochemical act and the interaction of the excited dye with the complex AA–B in the dark resulting in radicals (from ascorbic acid) which initiate vinyl polymerization is proposed, and the experimental results are found to conform to such a scheme. The values of various ratios of rate constants such as k_p/k_t^½, k_r/k₇, k_i/k₆ were calculated and are discussed.     

Uranyl ion-sensitized polymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide in aqueous solution

The kinetics of polymerization of the vinyl monomers, acrylamide and methacrylamide, photosensitized by uranyl ions in homogeneous aqueous acid medium was studied systematically. Monochromatic radiation of wavelengths 365, 405, and 436 mμ was used for irradiation. Uranyl perchlorate in aqueous perchloric acid (pH = 0–2) was used as the sensitizer to ensure that only uncomplexed UO₂²⁺ ions existed in the solution. Polymerization was found to proceed without any induction period, the steady state being attained in about 10–20 min., and was followed by the measurement of the rate of monomer disappearance by bromine addition method. The chain lengths of the polymers were determined by viscometry. It was observed that there was no change in the initiator concentration, [UO₂²⁺], during polymerization. The dependence of the rate of polymerization on variables like light intensity, light absorption fraction by the active species, wavelength, monomer concentration, hydrogen ion concentration, temperature, nature of the acid used (HClO₄ and H₂SO₄), viscosity of the medium etc., were studied. A kinetic reaction scheme is proposed and discussed in the light of the experimental results. Certain rate parameters were calculated. The mechanism of photosensitization by uranyl ions with specific reference to primary photochemical act, initiation of polymerization etc., are discussed.     

Electrochemical and chemical polymerization of acrylamide

The electrochemical and chemical polymerization of acrylamide (AA) has been studied. The electrolysis of the monomer in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) containing (C₄H₉)₄NClO₄ as the supporting electrolyte leads to polymer formation in both anode and cathode compartments. The cathodic polymer dissolves in the reaction mixture and the anodic polymer precipitates during the course of polymerization. A plausible mechanism for the anodic and cathodic initiation reaction has been given. The chemical polymerization of acrylamide that has been initiated by HClO₄ is analogous to its anodic polymerization. The polymer yield increases with an increase in concentration of the monomer and HClO₄. Raising the reaction temperature also enhances the polymerization rate. The overall apparent activation energy of the polymerization was determined to be ca. 19 kcal/mole. The copolymerization of acrylamide was carried out with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in a solution of HClO₄ in DMF. The reactivity ratios are r₁ (AA) = 0.25 and r₂ = 2.50. The polymerization with HClO₄ appears to be by a free radical mechanism. When the polymerization of acrylamide is carried out with HClO₄ in H₂O, a crosslinked water-insoluble gel formation takes place.     

Vinyl polymerization of acrylamide initiated by Thallium(III) ions in solution

Kinetics of polymerization of acrylamide initiated by Thallium(III) perchlorate was investigated in aqueous perchloric acid medium in the temperature range of 55–70°C. The rates of polymerization were measured varying the concentration of the monomer, initiator, and perchloric acid. The rate of polymerization was found to increase with increase of temperature, monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and perchloric acid concentration. The effect of additives like different solvents, surfactants, and retarders on the rate of polymerization was studied. Molecular weights of the polymer were determined by viscometry. The chain transfer constants for the monomer (C_M) and that for the solvent dioxan (C_s) were calculated to be 7.33 × 10^?3 and 6.66 × 10^?3, respectively. From the Arrhenius plot, the overall activation energy (E_a) was calculated to be 10.68 kcal/mol. The energy of initiation was calculated to be 12.36 kcal/mol. Depending on the results obtained, a suitable reaction mechanism has been suggested and a rate equation has been derived.     

Radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene to poly(vinyl chloride)

The radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. Relations between the rate of grafting and the dose rate when the polymer is irradiated in liquid monomer or in monomer vapor, and between the rate of grafting and monomer concentration absorbed in the polymer have been investigated. The rate of grafting in monomer vapor was found to be far larger than that in liquid monomer. A high rate of grafting in monomer vapor was thought to result from a lower concentration of monomer in PVC during irradiation. An experiment carried out on PVC containing the monomer at various concentrations showed that the rate is largest at a monomer concentration of about 3.5 mole/l. and is smaller for higher and lower concentrations. On the assumption that the theory of homogeneous homopolymerization can be applied to this grafting reaction, the value of k_p²/k_t has been obtained, where k_p and k_t are propagation constant and termination constant, respectively. The value of k_t greatly increases when the monomer concentration exceeds 3.5 mole/l. This increase of k_t can be accounted for if it is assumed that the monomer absorbed in the polymer works as a plasticizer and increases the molecular motion of the polymer. A measurement of the elastic modulus of PVC containing the monomer at various concentrations showed that this is, in fact, the case.     

Graft polymerization kinetics of acrylamide initiated by ceric nitrate–dextran redox systems

The kinetics of the graft polymerization of acrylamide initiated by ceric nitrate—dextran polymeric redox systems was studied primarily at 25°C. Following an initial period of relatively fast reaction, the rate of polymerization is first-order with respect to the concentrations of monomer and dextran and independent of the ceric ion concentration. The equilibrium constant for ceric ion—dextran complexation K is 3.0 ± 1.6 l./mole, the specific rate of dissociation of the complex, k_d, is 3.0 ± 1.2 × 10^?4 sec.^?1, and the ratio of polymerization rate constants, k_p/k_t, is 0.44 ± 0.15. The number-average degree of polymerization is directly proportional to the ratio of the initial concentrations of monomer and ceric ion and increases exponentially with increasing extent of conversion. The initial rapid rate of polymerization is accounted for by the high reactivity of ceric ion with cis-glycol groups on the ends of the dextran chains. The polymerization in the slower period that follows is initiated by the breakdown of coordination complexes of ceric ions with secondary alcohols on the dextran chain and terminated by redox reaction with uncomplexed ceric ions.     

Polymerization Kinetics of Water-Soluble N-Vinyl Monomers in Aqueous and Organic Solution

Summary: Free-radical batch polymerization (FRP) of N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) and N-vinyl formamide (NVF) monomers in aqueous solution as well as NVP polymerization in organic (n-butanol) solution has been studied. The differences found in rate of monomer conversion with monomer and solvent choice correlates well with the differences in values of the propagation rate coefficients (k_p) and their variation with monomer concentration measured in independent pulsed-laser polymerization studies, a result demonstrating that a generalized understanding of water-soluble vinyl monomers can be obtained once their k_p differences have been accounted for. A reasonable representation of polymer molecular mass averages and the complete molecular mass distributions for the three systems was obtained by assuming that the rate coefficient for transfer to monomer, polymer, and organic solvent also vary as a function of monomer concentration.     

Kinetic study of the solution polymerization of methacrylamide initiated with potassium persulfate using in situ Raman spectroscopy and band‐target entropy minimization

In this paper, the use of in situ Raman spectroscopy together with a novel multivariate data analysis method, band‐target entropy minimization (BTEM), is discussed to monitor the solution polymerization of methacrylamide in aqueous medium. Although FTIR spectroscopy is a more popular spectroscopic technique for polymer characterization and in situ polymerization monitoring, Raman spectroscopy is selected over FTIR in the current study. This is because water has very strong and broad infrared absorption bands and thus masks most of the other infrared signals contributed from monomer and polymer. On the contrary, water has very weak Raman scattering and thus it does not interfere the other Raman signals. The polymerization was initiated with potassium persulfate (KPS). A series of experiments were carried out varying initial monomer concentration, initial KPS concentration, and polymerization temperature. In situ Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor the polymerizing mixture and measure the compositions. The collected reaction spectra were subjected to BTEM to elucidate the pure component spectra, and then determine the conversion of monomer. The conversion data was then used to obtain kinetic parameters for the polymerization. The rate of consumption of monomers was found to follow the expression R = k_eff [I]^0.55[M]^1.41. The activation energy of the system was estimated at 121 kJ/mol. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5697–5704, 2007     

Synthesis and polymerization of 5‐(methacrylamido)tetrazole,a water‐soluble acidic monomer

The reaction of methacryloyl chloride with 5‐aminotetrazole gave the polymerizable methacrylamide derivative 5‐(methacrylamido)tetrazole ( 4 ) in one step. The monomer had an acidic tetrazole group with a pK_a value of 4.50 ± 0.01 in water methanol (2:1). Radical polymerization proceeded smoothly in dimethyl formamide or, after the conversion of monomer 4 into sodium salt 4‐Na , even in water. A superabsorbent polymer gel was obtained by the copolymerization of 4‐Na and 0.08 mol % N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide. Its water absorbency was about 200 g of water/g of polymer, although the extractable sol content of the gel turned out to be high. The consumption of 4‐Na and acrylamide (as a model compound for the crosslinker) during a radical polymerization at 57 °C in D₂O was followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Fitting the changes in the monomer concentration to the integrated form of the copolymerization equation gave the reactivity ratios r _4‐Na = 1.10 ± 0.05 and r_acrylamide = 0.45 ± 0.02, which did not differ much from those of an ideal copolymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4333–4343, 2002     

Polymerization of Methacrylamide Initiated by Ceric Ion-Citric Acid Redox System

Homogeneous polymerization of methacrylamide initiated by the ceric ammonium sulfate-citric acid (CA) redox pair has been investigated and reported at 35 ± 0.2°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The initiation was caused by the free radical generated by the decomposition of the complex formed between ceric ion and citric acid. The rate of monomer disappearance was found to be proportional to [CA]^0.4, [Ce^0.4+]^0.65, and [Monomer]¹ The rate of ceric ion disappearance was directly proportional to the ceric ion concentration but independent of the monomer concentration. The initial rate was independent of [H₂SO₄]. The activation energy of the system was found to be 21.4 kJ/mol.     

Photoinitiated free radical polymerization of vinyl compounds in aqueous solution

A new method for the photochemical initiation of polymerization of vinyl compounds in aqueous solution is described. The photochemically active species is an ion pair complex of the formula Fe³⁺X⁻(X⁻ = OH⁻, CI⁻, N⁻₃, etc.). The light absorption by the ion pair leads to an electron transfer causing reduction of the cation and oxidation of the anion to an atom or free radical X. The latter leads to the initiation of polymerization in accordance with X + CH₂CHR→XCH₂ CHR . The kinetics of the reaction were studied by the measurement of: (a) ferrous ion formed (colorimetrically), (b) monomer disappearance (by titration and by weighting the polymer), (c) the chain length of the polymer (in the case of methyl methacrylate). The dependence of the quantum yield on the light intensity, light absorption fraction, and the concentration of vinyl monomer and ferrous ion added initially was investigated. A complete mechanism, both with regard to the formation of free radicals and the polymerization reaction, was put forward involving: (1) light absorption, (2) a primary dark back reaction, (3) dissociation of the primary product, (4) a secondary dark back reaction, (5) initiation of polymerization by free radicals, (6) propagation of polymerization, and (7) termination by recombination of active polymer endings. The mechanism was verified by the experimental results and some constant ratios were estimated quantitatively.