Vinyl Polymerization. 218. Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Nylon‐6 Fiber and Water

Abstract

AbstractThe polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of nylon‐6 fibers and water was carried out. It was found that the conversion in the absence of water was the same as that of thermal polymerization, but in the presence of water the conversion was much higher. When methyl methacrylate and water existed sufficiently in the polymerization system, the rate of polymerization (Rp) was given by the following equation; Rp = k (Nylon)1,0 (Methyl methacrylate)0 (Water)0. The over‐all activation energy of the polymerization was found to be 13 kcal/mole. The polymerization of styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, and methyl acrylate could not be initiated by the system of nylon and water. Apparent grafting efficiency of polymethyl methacrylate onto nylon was calculated from the amount of polymer which was not extracted with acetone. The efficiency was independent on the reaction time and the amount of water, and increased with the amount of nylon, while it decreased with the amount of methyl methacrylate and with reaction temperature. From the fact that a major part of the polymethyl methacrylate could not be extracted, it was concluded that the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of nylon and water occured predominantly inside the fiber. The degree of the polymerization of polymethyl methacrylate formed inside the nylon fiber was considerably higher than that of homopolymethyl methacrylate formed outside the fiber. It was qualitatively recognized that the major part of the polymethyl methacrylate generated in the fiber was not grafted onto nylon, but existed as homopolymer.