Effect of Glycerol in the Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate by Mn(III) Acetate

The kinetics of the mechanism of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the glycerol/Mn(III) acetate redox system has been investigated in aqueous sulfuric acid medium in the temperature range of 40 to 50 °C. The effects of glycerol, methyl methacrylate, metal ion, acetic acid, and sulfuric acid on the rates of polymerization have been studied. One striking observation is that the increase in monomer concentration steadily decreases the rate of polymerization, contrary to what was observed in the case of acrylonitrile. On the basis of these observations, an appropriate kinetic scheme and rate expression have been developed.