Vinyl polymerization by cobaltic ions in aqueous solution. Part II. Polymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate

Polymerization of methyl acrylate in HClO₄ and HNO₃ was studied in the temperature range 10–15°C. The kinetics of the polymerization were found to be very simple, involving initiation and termination by cobaltic ions. Kinetic studies on polymerization of acrylonitrile in HClO₄ and HNO₃ revealed that water oxidation, and monomer oxidation were side reactions as in the case of methyl methacrylate. Experimental evidence favored the simultaneous initiation by Co³⁺ and CoOH²⁺ species. In H₂SO₄, certain unusual features were encountered. At low [Co³⁺], linear termination as well as termination by mutual combination occurred. Another interesting aspect was that CoSO₄⁺ initiated at low [Co³⁺]. This was unlike the case of other monomers in H₂SO₄. The rates of polymerization and rates of cobaltic ion disappearance were measured with respect to changes in [M], [Co³⁺], [H⁺], temperature, etc. The various rate constants were evaluated.