Controlled Radical Polymerization of Butyl Acrylate and Methyl Methacrylate by Reverse Iodine Transfer Polymerization (RITP) in Miniemulsion: Use of Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidant

Abstract

The controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate by reverse iodine transfer polymerization in aqueous miniemulsion was achieved. The polymerization was initiated by bis(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)peroxydicarbonate at T=64°C for methyl methacrylate and by AIBN at T=85°C for butyl acrylate with dodecyl sulfate sodium salt as surfactant, yielding stable latexes. The hydrolytic disproportionation of iodine was counterbalanced by a continuous addition of hydrogen peroxide to regenerate the hydrolyzed iodine, leading to a good correlation between theoretical and experimental molecular weights.