γ-Radiation-Initiated Polymerization of Acrylonitrile in Aqueous Solution and in Emulsion

Abstract

Abstract The γ-radiation-initiated polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) at 25[ddot] C has been studied, both in aqueous solution and in emulsion, at dose rates between 70 and 175 krad/hr. The effect of added emulsifier, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), on reaction rates, Rp, and on polymer molecular weight, Mn, has been investigated. G (monomer polymerized) values ranged from 7,500 in aqueous solution to 20,000 in bulk to 45,000 in emulsion, all based on the total energy absorbed. In the aqueous solution polymerization, where Rp is approximately first order in initial monomer concentration over the range 0.15 ± [AN]o ± 1.06 moles/liter, addition of SLS increases Rp but does not influence the order of the reaction with respect to [AN]o. In the emulsion system at 70 krad/hr and at a phase volume ratio AN/H2O of 1/2, (PR = 1/2), Rp varies as [SLS]0.1 over the concentration range 0.01 ± [SLS] ± 2.5± wt/vol of aqueous phase. At the same PR value, and at 80 krad/hr, Mn of the polymer (measured by viscometry in dime...