Reaction kinetics and gel effect on the polymerization of 2‐ethoxyethyl methacrylate and 2(2‐ethoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate

Polymerization kinetics at several temperatures of 2‐ethoxyethyl methacrylate (EEMA) and 2(2‐ethoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (DEMA) in bulk and in dioxane solutions are described. The gel effect was never detected at monomer concentrations equal to or lower than 1 mol L^?1, although in the bulk polymerization both monomers display the gel effect at very low conversions. Because of the influence of the efficiency factor f on the polymerization rate, a theoretical kinetic interpretation of the changes in f with monomer and initiator concentrations and kinetic parameters was performed to achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in radical polymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3987–4001, 2002