| Abstract: | In the sodium bisulfite–soda lime glass initiating system, crude and true grafting yields increased with increasing ratio of methyl methacrylate to cellulose up to a limit; beyond this limiting value, grafting yields decreased due to the increase of the rate of sodium bisulfite-monomer addition over that of polymerization. Limitation was also achieved on increasing the glass to cellulose ratio through increased termination rates by coupling and disproportionation reactions, as the free radicals are increased. In addition, a limiting value was reached with increasing sodium bisulfite concentration; this may be related to the formation of a nonfunctioning disulfite ion at the expense of bisulfite radicals at high concentrations of sodium bisulfite. The temperature plays a role in this initiating system. Maximum rates of conversion and grafting were achieved at the ceiling temperature. Dissociation of the sodium bisulfite, which decreases with temperature, also has an effect. |
