Reactions catalyzed by soda lime glass. III. Molecular weights of poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared in aqueous media with NaHSO3 as initiator

Abstract

AbstractThe polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in water by use of various concentrations of sodium bisulfite as initiator in the presence and absence of colorless and colored soda lime glass at 40°C. The reaction products were filtered, washed with water, methanol and finally dried at 50°C. The glass–polymer combination was subjected to Soxhlet extraction with benzene. The molecular weights of the soluble polymers were determined viscometrically. In the absence of glass, the conversion was lower but the average molecular weights were higher than in presence of soda lime glass. The effect of grain size of the glass on conversion and molecular weights was such that larger grain size of glass resulted in lower conversion and higher average molecular weights.