Polymerization of N-vinyl caprolactam by ultrasound aided dual-sited phase transfer catalytic conditions

Abstract

This work demonstrates the successful polymerization of N-vinyl caprolactam using dual-sited phase-transfer catalyst and potassium persulfate as conventional radical initiator in cyclohexane-aqueous media at 60 ± 2 °C under normal and ultrasound environment with 45 kHz power of 550 W. Dual-sited phase-transfer catalyst acts as a gear to accelerate the reaction in a two-phase system and along with ultrasound circumstance reaction rate was effectively improved. We observed that the polymerization rate was significantly increased with an increase of concentration of different reaction parameters and also presence of ultrasound environment rate was doubled than with normal condition. Activation energy value of polymerization reaction validates the doubling of polymerization rate. The various reaction parameters (frequency, monomer, initiator, catalyst, and temperature) on the polymerization rate were explored under normal and ultrasound condition. Acquired poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) was validated and characterized by different analyses.