Radiation‐induced polymerization of glass‐forming systems. II. Effect of temperature on the polymerization rate at higher conversion

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of temperature and conversion on the polymerization rate at higher conversion was investigated with regard to the γ‐ray‐induced polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in the supercooled phase. The polymerization rate changed from acceleration to depression at various conversions, depending on the polymerization temperature. It was found that Tv at which the viscosity of the system became ca. 103 cpoise influenced the shape of the polymerization time–conversion curve. The experimentally obtained conversion reflection point in the polymerization time–conversion curve agreed with the conversion where the polymerization temperature is the same as the calculated Tv of the system. When the polymerization temperature was lower than Tv of the monomer, no acceleration of the polymerization occurred. When the polymerization temperature was higher than Tv of the polymer, no depression of the polymerization rate was observed. The effect of temperature on the saturated conversion (final conversion) was also examined in terms of Tg of the polymerization system. The experimentally obtained saturated conversion agreed with the conversion where the polymerization temperature is the same as the calculated Tg of the system.