For radical polymerization

Photoinitiation is an excellent method for studying the pre- and posteffects of free radical polymerization, and from the ratio of the specific rate constant (kx) in non-steady-state conditions, together with steady-state kinetics, the absolute values of propagation (kp) and termination (k,) rate constants for radical polymerization can be obtained. 

Meanwhile, it was found by Asai and colleagues [48] that tetraphenylphosphonium salts having such anions as Cl, Br , and Bp4 work as photoinitiators for radical polymerization. Based on the initiation effects of changing counteranions, they proposed that a one-electron transfer mechanism is reasonable in these initiation reactions. However, in the case of tetraphenylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate, it cannot be ruled out that direct homolysis of the p-phenyl bond gives the phenyl radical as the initiating species since BF4 is not an easily pho-tooxidizable anion [49]. Therefore, it was assumed that a similar photoexcitable moiety exists in both tetraphenyl phosphonium salts and triphenylphosphonium ylide, which can be written as the following resonance hybrid [17] (Scheme 21) ... 

Previously, the same author [52] reported that compounds containing the tricoordinated sulfur cation, such as the triphenylsulfonium salt, worked as effective initiators in the free radical polymerization of MMA and styrene [52]. Because of the structural similarity of sulfonium salt and ylide, diphenyloxosulfonium bis-(me-thoxycarbonyl) methylide (POSY) (Scheme 28), which contains a tetracoordinated sulfur cation, was used as a photoinitiator by Kondo et al. [63] for the polymerization of MMA and styrene. The photopolymerization was carried out with a high-pressure mercury lamp the orders of reaction with respect to [POSY] and [MMA] were 0.5 and 1.0, respectively, as expected for radical polymerization. 

The overall rate constant for radical-radical termination can be defined in terms of the rate of consumption of propagating radicals. Consider the simplified mechanism for radical polymerization shown in Scheme 5.4. 

Morton and Salatiello have deduced the ratio kpp/kp for radical polymerization of butadiene by applying the above described procedure, appropriately modified for the emulsion system they used. The primary molecular weight was controlled by a mercaptan acting as chain transfer agent, as in the experiments of Bardwell and Winkler cited above. Measurement of the mercaptan concentration over the course of the reaction provided the necessary information for calculating % at any stage of the process, and in particular at the critical conversion 6c for the initial appearance of gel. The velocity constant ratios which they obtained from their results through the use of Eq. 

The kinetic expressions which describe the rate and degree of polymerization in cationic polymerizations are derived in a manner analogous to that for radical polymerization. The results are similar with the main difference being that the direct and inverse dependencies of the rate and degree of polymerization, respectively, on the initiator concentration or initiation rate are both first-order, not half-order as in radical polymerization. The difference arises from cationic termination being mono-molecular in the propagating species instead of bimolecular as in radical polymerization. 

Since PTFE was first synthesized more than 50 years ago, fluoropolymers have been produced by radical polymerization and copolymerizaton processes, but without any functional groups, for several reasons. First, the synthesis of functional vinyl compounds suitable for radical polymerization is much more complicated and expensive in comparison with common fluoroolefins. In radical polymerization of one of the simplest possible candidates—perfluorovinyl sulfonic acid (or sulfonyl fluoride—there was not enough reactivity to provide high-molecular-weight polymers or even perfluorinated copolymers with considerable functional comonomer content. Several methods for the synthesis of the other simplest monomer—trifluoroacrylic acid or its esters—were reported,1 but convenient improved synthesis of these compounds as well as radical copolymerization with TFE induced by y-irradiation were not described until 1980.2... 

Owing to their liquid or semisolid nature, monomers are easy to process into polymers. For radical polymerization the use of solid AIBN for liquid monomers at room temperature and liquid MEKP for semisolid monomers or a mixture of liquid and semisolid monomers with some heating is convenient. During the course of curing at 85- 100°C for 22 h the problem of surface inhibition of free radicals by oxygen from the air can be avoided by inert-gas blanketing. 

The stability of vinylidene chloride copolymers generated using different polymerization initiators has also been examined. The two common types of initiators for radical polymerization are azo compounds and peroxides. A common azo initiator is azoisobutronitrile or AIBN. The initiation of vinylidene chloride polymerization using AIBN is illustrated in scheme 3. 

The second generation of hyperbranched polymers was introduced a few years ago when Frechet et al. reported the use of self-condensing vinyl polymerization to prepare hyperbranched polymers by carbocationic systems (Fig. 3) [46]. Similar procedures but adapted for radical polymerization were shortly thereafter demonstrated by Hawker et al. [47] and Matyjaszewski et al. [48]. 

Theoretical considerations indicate that kc would be very large, about 8 x 109 L mol-1 s 1, in low-viscosity media (such as bulk monomer) for the reaction between two radicals. The rate constants for reactions of small radicals (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl) are close to this value (being about 2 x 109 L mol s 1) [Ingold, 1973]. Experimentally determined kt values for radical polymerizations, however, are considerably lower, usually by two orders of magnitude or more (see Table 3-11). Thus diffusion is the rate-determining process for termination, kc 3> fct, and one obtains... 

Quantitative aspects of photopolymerization have been described in Sec. 3-4c. There are some differences between radical and cationic photopolymerizations. The dependence of Rp on light intensify is half-order for radical polymerization, but first-order for cationic polymerization. Radical photopolymerizations stop immediately on cessation of irradiation. Most cationic photopolymerizations, once initiated, continue in the absence of light because most of the reaction systems chosen are living polymerizations (Sec. 5-2g). 

It is useful to understand the reasons for the faster reaction rates encountered in many anionic polymerizations compared to their radical counterparts. This can be done by comparing the kinetic parameters in appropriate rate equations Eq. 3-22 for radical polymerization and Eq. 5-84 for anionic polymerization. The kp values in radical polymerization are similar to the fc pp values in anionic polymerization. Anionic fc pp values may be 10-100-fold lower than in radical polymerization for polymerization in hydrocarbon solvents, while they may be... 

The purification procedures to be applied depend on the monomer, on the expected impurities, and especially on the purpose for which the monomer is to be employed, e.g., whether it is to be used for radical polymerization in aqueous emulsion or for ionic polymerization initiated with sodium naphthalene. It is not possible to devise a general purification scheme instead the most suitable method must be chosen in each case from those given below. A prerequisite for successful purification is extreme cleanliness of all apparatus (if necessary, treating with hot nitrating acid and repeatedly thorough washing with distilled water). 

The initiator concentrations required for cationic polymerizations are smaller than those for radical polymerizations frequently 10 to 10" mol of initiator per mol monomer is sufficient to achieve a high rate of reaction. The effect of initiator concentration on the rate and average degree of polymerization depends on the monomer and a variety of other factors and does not follow a consistent pattern. 

It has been found that the monomer reactivities vary by the method of polymerization, even for radical polymerization in different environments, i.e., in bulk, solution and microemulsion (5). The reactivity ratios for different methods of polymerization are given in Table 10.2... 

Organic peroxides, which readily decompose into free radicals under the effect of thermal energy, are used under high pressures as initiators for radical polymerizations. The measurement of the influence of pressure on the rate of decomposition gives rise to the determination of the activation volume, which, in turn, allows conclusions to be drawn on the decomposition mechanism and the transition state. 

In accordance with the usual rules for radical polymerization processes the molar masses of the products were reduced at higher reaction temperatures and when greater initiator concentrations were present. Furthermore, these prepolymers were found to exhibit surfactant properties (Table 4.8, Fig. 4.6). 

The above method may be applicable to the synthesis of diblock copolymers of propylene with various vinyl monomers being active for radical polymerization. 

We begin by describing the current understanding of the kinetics of polymerization of classical unsaturated monomers and macromonomers in the disperse systems. In particular, we note the importance of diffusion-controlled reactions of such monomers at high conversions, the nucleation mechanism of particle formation, and the kinetics and kinetic models for radical polymerization in disperse systems. 

Percec and co-workers not only developed monomers suitable for radical polymerization but also presented systems suitable for the introduction into poly (methylsiloxane)s [34] via hydrosilylation (Scheme 12). Monomer 23 with a terminal double bond was added to the poly(methylsiloxane) using Cp2PtCl2 as a catalyst to give poly (23). The trends observed for poly (23) were also found for poly(17) as polymerization improves the mesophase stability significantly. 

An example of the first approach is the integration of hydrogels into nanostructured silica films by addition of a suitable monomer (e.g., methyl methacrylate, /V-isopropyl acrylamide, etc.) and an initiator for radical polymerization to a solution containing a structure-directing surfactant and a prehydrolyzed silica precursor. During self-assembly, the monomers partition within the hydrophobic core of the surfactant mesophase postsynthesis polymerization (for instance, by UV treatment) followed by solvent washing to remove the surfactant template yields a polymer-silica nanohybrid. 

Figure 5.18 Microprocess pilot plant for radical polymerization reaction (by courtesy of ACS) [54].

Diacylperoxide is used mainly as an initiator for radical polymerizations as well as for hardening and crosslinking polyester resins as a result of its ability to easily thermally decompose. 

In principle, the photoreactions of CT s are able to offer a great number of photoinitiator systems for radical polymerization. But, so far, this subject has only received little attention, and the current knowledge relative to the photochemistry of such complexes is poor. In addition to the amine complexes mentioned above, chinoline-bromine [124-127], chinoline-chlorine [128], 2-methylpyridine-chlorine [129], pyridine-bromine [130], IV-vinylpyrrolidone-bromine [131], acridone-bro-mine [132], acridone-chlorine [133], benzophenone-S02 [134], isoquinoline-S02 [135, 136], and 2-methylquinoline-S02 [136] combinations are used for radical polymerization of AN, alkyl methacrylates, acrylic and methacrylic acid, and for... 

Measurement of the initiation rate has been best developed for radical polymerizations. 

Title Method for Radical Polymerization in the Presence of a Chain Transfer Agent... 

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