Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III)

Abstract

The results of a kinetic study of the photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate by potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III) in aqueous sulphuric acid solution with light of wavelength 365 nm at 30 °C are presented. All reactions were carried out under completely deaerated conditions. The rate Rp of polymerization was followed by gravimetric estimation of the polymer formed and the rate of disappearance of the complex was followed by spectrocolourimetric estimation of the disappearing complex. Rp was found to be directly proportional to [M] 3/2, [C] 1/2 and I 1/2, where [M], [C] and I refer to the concentration of monomer, the concentration of complex and the light intensity respectively. The rate of complex disappearance was found to be directly proportional to [C] and I. A reaction scheme is presented and the corresponding kinetic expressions are derived.