Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerization of methoxymethyl methacrylate

The kinetics of methoxymethyl methacrylate (MOMA) homopolymerization has been investigated in benzene, using azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator. The rate of polymerization (R_p) could be expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.5 [MOMA]^1.19. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 73.2 kJ/mol. Kinetic constants for MOMA polymerization were obtained as follows: k_p/k_t^1/2 = 0.091 L^1/2 · mol^?1/2 · s^?1/2; 2fk_d = 1.37 × 10^?5 s^?1. The values of K and a in the Mark–Houwink equation, [η] = KM^a, where K = 5.89 × 10^?5 and a = 0.82 when M = M _n and the solvent was benzene. The relative reactivity ratios of MOMA (M₂) copolymerizations with styrene (r₁ = 0.40, r₂ = 0.58) were obtained. Applying the Q-e scheme led to Q = 0.78 and e = 0.67. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of poly(MOMA) was observed to be 64°C by DSC. Thermogravimetry of poly(MOMA) showed a 10% weight loss at 230°C in air.