Use of an Internal Keto-Imino Compound as the Photoinitiator in the Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

Photopolymerization of MMA in visible light was studied at 40°C using acridone as the photoinitiator. The polymerization was found to proceed via a free radical mechanism and the radical generation process was considered to follow an initial complexation reaction between monomer and acridone. Kinetic data indicated a lower order dependence of R_p on the initiator concentration (initiator exponent < 0.5). Initiator-dependent chain termination was significant along with the usual bimolecular mode of chain termination. The monomer exponent varied from about 1.0 to 1.5, depending on the nature of the solvent used. The nonidealities in this case were also analyzed.