Free Radical Polymerization effect

Diffusion-Controlled Free Radical Polymerization - Effect on Polymerization Rate and Molecular Properties of PVC , Abstracts - Third International Symposium on PVC, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, August 10-15 (1980). 

The reaction rate in the studied range (60-90°C) increases with temperature independently of the media. DAAH copolymerization with SO2 proceeds significantly easier in aqueous media - at lower temperatures and lesser concentrations of initiator, than in DMSO. The values of the total activation energy of DAAH copolymerization with SO2 in the water solution and DMSO, calculated from Arrenius equation, are 58,6 and 87,9 kJ/mol, respectively. It is known from reference data [9] that the values of activation energy of alternate copolymerization turn out to be lesser, than in the case of the most reactions of free-radical polymerization, effective activation energy of the latter being in the range 83,7-96,3 kJ/mol. 

Sato E, Emoto T, Zetterlund PB, Yamada B. Influence of mid-chain radicals on acrylate free radical polymerization effect of ester alkyl group. Macromol Chem Phys 2004 205 1829-1839. 

The molecular weight distribution for a polymer like that described above is remarkably narrow compared to free-radical polymerization or even to ionic polymerization in which transfer or termination occurs. The sharpness arises from the nearly simultaneous initiation of all chains and the fact that all active centers grow as long as monomer is present. The following steps outline a quantitative treatment of this effect ... 

Among other possible reactions, these free radicals can initiate ordinary free-radical polymerization. The Ziegler-Natta systems are thus seen to encompass several mechanisms for the initiation of polymerization. Neither ionic nor free-radical mechanisms account for stereoregularity, however, so we must look further for the mechanism whereby the Ziegler-Natta systems produce this interesting effect. 

Photoinitiation. Since photolysis of polysdanes generates sdyl radicals, which can add to carbon—carbon double bonds, these polymers have been used for the free-radical polymerization of unsaturated organic monomers (135,136). Though about one-tenth as efficient as other organic photoinitiators, polysdanes are nevertheless quite insensitive to oxygen effects, which somewhat compensates for their lower efficiency. 

Free-radical polymerization is the preferred iadustrial route both because monomer purification is not required (109) and because initiator residues need not be removed from polymer for they have minimal effect on polymer properties. 

The Q-e Scheme. The magnitude of and T2 can frequentiy be correlated with stmctural effects, such as polar and resonance factors. For example, in the free-radical polymerization of vinyl acetate with styrene, both styrene and vinyl acetate radicals preferentially add styrene because of the formation of the resonance stabilized polystyrene radical. 

Photopolymerization reactions are widely used for printing and photoresist appHcations (55). Spectral sensitization of cationic polymerization has utilized electron transfer from heteroaromatics, ketones, or dyes to initiators like iodonium or sulfonium salts (60). However, sensitized free-radical polymerization has been the main technology of choice (55). Spectral sensitizers over the wavelength region 300—700 nm are effective. AcryUc monomer polymerization, for example, is sensitized by xanthene, thiazine, acridine, cyanine, and merocyanine dyes. The required free-radical formation via these dyes may be achieved by hydrogen atom-transfer, electron-transfer, or exciplex formation with other initiator components of the photopolymer system. 

Certain free radical polymerization data gave curves when plotted according to Eq. (2-15) but straight lines accordingto Eq. (2-19). This apparent paradox was resolved by postulating that some constant portion R of reactant is unreactive and serves to diminish the effective reactant concentration, lowering it to Ca - / The appropriate form of Eq. (2-15) is then... 

The effects of increasing the concentration of initiator (i.e., increased conversion, decreased M , and broader PDi) and of reducing the reaction temperature (i.e., decreased conversion, increased M , and narrower PDi) for the polymerizations in ambient-temperature ionic liquids are the same as observed in conventional solvents. May et al. have reported similar results and in addition used NMR to investigate the stereochemistry of the PMMA produced in [BMIM][PFgj. They found that the stereochemistry was almost identical to that for PMMA produced by free radical polymerization in conventional solvents [43]. The homopolymerization and copolymerization of several other monomers were also reported. Similarly to the findings of Noda and Watanabe, the polymer was in many cases not soluble in the ionic liquid and thus phase-separated [43, 44]. 

Even within the small numbers of studies conducted to date, we are already seeing potentially dramatic effects. Free radical polymerization proceeds at a much faster rate and there is already evidence that both the rate of propagation and the rate of termination are effected. Whole polymerization types - such as ring-opening polymerization to esters and amides, and condensation polymerization of any type (polyamides, polyesters, for example) - have yet to be attempted in ionic liquids. This field is in its infancy and we look forward to the coming years with great anticipation. 

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 most comprehensive simulation of a free radical polymerization process in a CSTR is that of Konopnicki and Kuester (15). For a mechanism which includes transfer to both monomer and solvent as well as termination by combination and disproportionation they examined the influence of non-isothermal operation, viscosity effects as well as induced sinuoidal and square-wave forcing functions on initiator feed and jacket temperature on the MWD of the polymer produced. 

Experimental conversion-time data, obtained from the literature, on the bulk free radical polymerization of MMA initiated by AIBN at several temperatures and initiator concentrations, were described by the model. However, the expressions for the rate of conversion and gel effect index were first simplified and rearranged. ... 

A series of simulations were performed to study the effect of variables such as initiator concentration, initiator half-life and activation energy on the optimum temperature and optimum time. It was assumed that initially the polymerization mixture contained S volume percent monomer, the rest of the mixture being solvent and polymer formed earlier. It was required to reduce the monomer concentration from S volume percent to 0.S volume percent in the minimum possible time. The kinetic and tbeimodyamnic parameters used are similar to those of free radical polymerization of MMA. The parameter values are given in Appendix B. 

The rates of radical-forming thermal decomposition of four families of free radical initiators can be predicted from a sum of transition state and reactant state effects. The four families of initiators are trarw-symmetric bisalkyl diazenes,trans-phenyl, alkyl diazenes, peresters and hydrocarbons (carbon-carbon bond homolysis). Transition state effects are calculated by the HMD pi- delocalization energies of the alkyl radicals formed in the reactions. Reactant state effects are estimated from standard steric parameters. For each family of initiators, linear energy relationships have been created for calculating the rates at which members of the family decompose at given temperatures. These numerical relationships should be useful for predicting rates of decomposition for potential new initiators for the free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers under extraordinary conditions. 

Irons-phenyl, alkyl diazenes (2), peresters (3) and hydrocarbons (4). These equations are intended to be used for their predictive value for applications especially in the area of free radical polymerization chemistry. They are not intended for imparting deep understanding of the mechanisms of radical forming reactions or the properties of the free radical "products". Some interesting hypotheses can be made about the contributions of transition state versus reactant state effects for the structure activity relationships of the reactions of this study, as long as the mechanisms are assumed to be constant throughout each family of free radical initiator. 

Ohshima, H Kondo, T, Electrophoretic Mobility and Donnan Potential of a Large Colloidal Particle with a Surface Charge Layer, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 116, 305, 1987. O Neil, GA Torkelson, JM, Modeling Insight into the Diffusion-Limited Cause of the Gel Effect in Free Radical Polymerization, Macromolecules 32,411, 1999. 

O Neil, GA Wisnudel, MB Torkelson, JM, Gel Effect in Free Radical Polymerization Model Discrimination of Its Cause, AIChE Journal 44, 1226, 1998. 

Such a mechanism is open to serious objections both on theoretical and experimental grounds. Cationic polymerizations usually are conducted in media of low dielectric constant in which the indicated separation of charge, and its subsequent increase as monomer adds to the chain, would require a considerable energy. Moreover, termination of chains growing in this manner would be a second-order process involving two independent centers such as occurs in free radical polymerizations. Experimental evidence indicates a termination process of lower order (see below). Finally, it appears doubtful that a halide catalyst is effective without a co-catalyst such as water, alcohol, or acetic acid. This is quite definitely true for isobutylene, and it may hold also for other monomers as well. 

It is commonly known that vinyltin compounds undergo no free-radical polymerization and do not readily copolymerize with various vinyl monomers which can be attributed to their inhibiting effect towards radical reactions48,79. ... 

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