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Title: Radiation-induced polymerization of glass-forming systems. IV. Effect of the homogeneity of polymerization phase and polymer concentration on temperature dependence of initial polymerization rate

Journal Article · · J. Polymer Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed., v. 11, no. 6, pp. 1141-1147

The effect of homogeneity of polymerization phase and monomer concentration on the temperature dependence of initial polymerization rate was studied in the radiation-induced radical polymerization of binary systems consisting of glass-forming monomer and solvent. In the polymerization of a completely homogeneous system such as HEMA-propylene glycol, a maximum and a minimum in polymerization rates as a function of temperature, characteristic of the polymerization in glass-forming systems, were observed for all monomer concentrations. However, in the heterogeneous polymerization systems such as HEMA-triacetin and HEMAisoamyl acetate, maximum and minimum rates were observed in monomer-rich compositions but not at low monomer concentrations. Furthermore, in the HEMA-dioctyl phthalate polymerization system, which is extremely heterogeneous, no maximum and minimum rates were observed at any monomer concentration. The effect of conversion on the temperature dependence of polymerization rate in homogeneous bulk polymerization of HEMA and GMA was investigated. Maximum and minimum rates were observed clearly in conversions less than 10% in the case of HEMA and less than 50% in the case of GMA, but the maximum and minimum changed to a mere inflection in the curve at higher conversions. A similar effect of polymer concentration on the temperature dependence of polymerization rate in the GMA-poly(methyl methacrylate) system was also observed. It is deduced that the change in temperature dependence of polymerization rate is attributed to the decrease in contribution of mutual termination reaction of growing chain radicals to the polymerization rate. (auth)

Research Organization:
Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Takasaki
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-29-012600
OSTI ID:
4382141
Journal Information:
J. Polymer Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed., v. 11, no. 6, pp. 1141-1147, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English