| Abstract: | The radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of binary systems consisting of acrylic monomer (acrylamide, acrylic acid) and organic compounds was investigated. In the previous paper on binary systems the authors reported that the rate of polymerization increased in the solid state (eutectic mixture systems). The mechanism of rate increase has been investigated by examination of phase diagrams, viscosities, and surface tension of the binary systems. Viscosity and surface tension are the measure of the molecular interaction of the two-component systems. In addition, the effect of linear crystal growth rate and half maximum width of the x-ray diffraction diagram of the crystallization process were determined. The larger the molecular interaction between the two components, the slower the linear crystal growth rate of monomer. The size of the monomer crystal decreases and the dislocation density of the monomer crystals increases in systems with large molecular interaction. Consequently it can be concluded that the physical structure of a binary solid system is the most important parameter determining the rate increase of solid-state polymerization. Dislocation on the grain boundary is more important than defects inside of the crystal lattice. It was found that the acceleration of polymerization rate is large in binary systems with larger molecular interaction. In some systems such as organic acid—amide systems with strong hydrogen bonds, glassy phases may be formed in which monomer may readily polymerize at very low temperatures. |
