| Abstract: | The effect of various substituted amines on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by ferric laurate—amine as the initiator system has been studied in carbon tetrachloride medium at 60°C. Amines used are n-butyl amine, di-n-butyl amine. The rate of polymerization is found to follow the order: tertiary > secondary > primary amine. From the detailed kinetic studies it was found that the overall polymerization rate can be expressed by the equation:  The relative activity of the different amines has been found to be dependent on the relative electron-donating tendency of the substituents present in the amine. The mechanism of the polymerization is discussed on the basis of these results, and various kinetic constants are evaluated. |
