| Abstract: | The kinetics of the K2S2O8-initiated inverse emulsion polymerization of aqueous sodium acrylate solutions in kerosene with Span 80 as the emulsifier has been studied. The conversion-time curves are S-shaped. The following expressions have been obtained for the maximum rate of polymerization and the molecular weight of the polymers under the experimental conditions investigated: Rmax ∞ K2S2O8]0.78sodium acrylate]1.5Span 80]0.1, (OVERLINE)M(/OVERLINE)u ∞ K2S2O8]?0.37sodium acrylate]2.9Span 80]?0.2. The activation energy for the maximum rate of polymerization is 94.8 kJ mol?1. The results suggest a monomer–droplet–nucleation mechanism for the system studied. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
