Kinetics of emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate and its copolymerization with acryl- or methacrylamide

Abstract

The kinetics of emulsion homo- and copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with amides of acrylic or methacrylic acids are studied. A specific feature of the reaction is the presence of a gel effect, leading to accelerated polymerization at high degrees of conversion. The magnitude of the gel effect depends on the initiation rate, and the concentration and nature of the emulsifier. It is shown that the formation of polymer-monomer particles involves different mechanisms, the ratio between which is determined by the presence of water soluble copolymers and by the initiation rate. The dependence of the kinetic order with respect to the emulsifier on the concentration of initiator and comonomer is determined by the existence of bimolecular splitting off of radicals in the aqueous phase. The effect of amides on emulsion polymerization is associated with an increase in the rate of growth in the latex particles and the probability of chain termination in the aqueous phase.