Sur une exaltation de l'“effet de matrice” lors de la polymerisation de l'acide acrylique dans certains melanges ternaires

The polymerization of acrylic acid proceeds with an extremely high degree of auto-acceleration in certain ternary mixtures. The most drastic effects are observed when small amounts of methanol are added to a dilute solution of acrylic acid in n-hexane. In such systems the auto-acceleration index “β” may exceed 10. β Was found to exhibit a maximum over a fairly narrow range of concentrations. Moreover, the values of β are highest at temperatures between ?5 and + 10°, where a maximum of 16 is reached. The swelling of poly(acrylic acid) in the various reacting mixtures was measured and the molecular associations of the monomer with itself and with methanol were investigated. It was concluded that the “exaltation of the matrix effect” in some of the systems is caused by the complex (Acrylic acid)₂, McOH]. This complex associates very rapidly with the polymer formed in the early stages of the reaction to produce a structure in which ultrafast propagation occurs. The swelling of the polymer favours the accessibility of the monomer to the polymeric chains during polymerization, leading to auto-acceleration which progresses with conversion and gives rise to a reaction with explosive character.