| Abstract: | A block copolymer of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethylene oxide) was synthesized by initiation with poly(ethylene oxide) radicals formed by high-speed stirring. The effects of the concentration of the monomer, the concentration of the polymer, the degree of polymerization, the rotation speed, and the solvent on the rate of copolymerization were studied. It was found that the rate of copolymerization was proportional to the concentration of the monomer and to the square root of the rate of scission of the polymer chain. The block copolymerization of methyl methacrylate monomer and styrene monomer (1 : 1 mole ratio) with poly(ethylene oxide) radicals was also carried out by the same method and it was found that the block copolymerization was a radical one. |
