The effect of Co(II)‐mediated catalytic chain transfer on the emulsion polymerization kinetics of methyl methacrylate |
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| Authors: | Niels M B Smeets Johan P A Heuts Jan Meuldijk Michael F Cunningham Alex M Van Herk |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Dupuis Hall, 19 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 |
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| Abstract: | The effect the catalytic chain transfer agent, bis(difluoroboryl) dimethylglyoximato] cobalt(II) (COBF), on the course of the ab initio emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate, and the product properties in terms of the molecular weight distribution were investigated. The emulsion polymerization kinetics have been studied with varying surfactant, initiator, and COBF concentrations. The experimentally determined average number of radicals per particle strongly depends on the concentration of COBF and proves to be in good agreement with the results of model calculations. The apparent chain transfer constant, determined up to high conversion, is in excellent agreement with the predicted value based on a mathematical model based on COBF partitioning and the Mayo equation. The results of this work enhance the fundamental understanding of the influence a catalytic chain transfer agent has on the course of the emulsion polymerization and the control of the molecular weight distribution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5078–5089, 2009 |
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| Keywords: | catalytic chain transfer emulsion polymerization kinetics (polym ) molecular weight distribution polymerization kinetics |
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