Hydroperoxide initiators, decomposition rates

The type of initiator utilized for a solution polymerization depends on several factors, including the solubiUty of the initiator, the rate of decomposition of the initiator, and the intended use of the polymeric product. The amount of initiator used may vary from a few hundredths to several percent of the monomer weight. As the amount of initiator is decreased, the molecular weight of the polymer is increased as a result of initiating fewer polymer chains per unit weight of monomer, and thus the initiator concentration is often used to control molecular weight. Organic peroxides, hydroperoxides, and azo compounds are the initiators of choice for the preparations of most acryUc solution polymers and copolymers. 

If a self-sustained oxidation is carried out under limiting rate conditions, the hydroperoxide provides the new radicals to the system (by reaction 4 or analogues) and is maintained at a low concentration (decomposition rate = generation rate). For these circumstances, the rate equation 9 holds, where n = average number of initiating radicals produced (by any means) per molecule of ROOH decomposed and / = fraction of RH consumed which disappears by ROO attack (25). 

The ultimate fate of the oxygen-centered radicals generated from alkyl hydroperoxides depends on the decomposition environment. In vinyl monomers, hydroperoxides can be used as efficient sources of free radicals because vinyl monomers generally are efficient radical scavengers which effectively suppress induced decomposition. When induced decomposition occurs, the hydroperoxide is decomposed with no net increase of radicals in the system (see eqs. 8, 9, and 10). Hydroperoxides usually are not effective free-radical initiators since radical-induced decompositions significantly decrease the efficiency of radical generation. Thermal decomposition-rate studies in dilute solutions show that alkyl hydroperoxides have 10-h HLTs of 133—172°C. 

Organic peroxides and hydroperoxides decompose in part by a self-induced radical chain mechanism whereby radicals released in spontaneous decomposition attack other molecules of the peroxide.The attacking radical combines with one part of the peroxide molecule and simultaneously releases another radical. The net result is the wastage of a molecule of peroxide since the number of primary radicals available for initiation is unchanged. The velocity constant ka we require refers to the spontaneous decomposition only and not to the total decomposition rate which includes the contribution of the chain, or induced, decomposition. Induced decomposition usually is indicated by deviation of the decomposition process from first-order kinetics and by a dependence of the rate on the solvent, especially when it consists of a polymerizable monomer. The constant kd may be separately evaluated through kinetic measurements carried out in the presence of inhibitors which destroy the radical chain carriers. The aliphatic azo-bis-nitriles offer a real advantage over benzoyl peroxide in that they are not susceptible to induced decomposition. 

In some systems it appears that the initiation step differs from the usual two-step sequence of Eqs. 3-13 and 3-14. Thus in the t-butyl hydroperoxide-styrene system only a minor part of the initiation occurs by the first-order homolysis reaction (Eq. 3-26f), which accounts for the complete decomposition of t-butyl hydroperoxide in the absence of styrene. Homolysis of the hydroperoxide occurs at a much faster rate in the presence of styrene than in its absence. The increased decomposition rate in the t-butyl hydroperoxide-styrene system occurs by a molecule-induced, homolysis reaction which is first-order in both styrene and hydroperoxide [Walling and Heaton, 1965]. The initiation reaction may be written as... 

Ed, the activation energy for thermal initiator decomposition, is in the range 120-150 kJ mol-1 for most of the commonly used initiators (Table 3-13). The Ep and Et values for most monomers are in the ranges 20-40 and 8-20 kJ mol-1, respectively (Tables 3-11 and 3-12). The overall activation energy Er for most polymerizations initiated by thermal initiator decomposition is about 80-90 kJ mol-1. This corresponds to a two- or threefold rate increase for a 10°C temperature increase. The situation is different for other modes of initiation. Thus redox initiation (e.g., Fe2+ with thiosulfate or cumene hydroperoxide) has been discussed as taking place at lower temperatures compared to the thermal polymerizations. One indication of the difference between the two different initiation modes is the differences in activation energies. Redox initiation will have an Ed value of only about 40-60 kJ mol-1, which is about 80 kJ mol-1 less than for the thermal initiator decomposition [Barb et al., 1951], This leads to an Er for redox polymerization of about 40 kJ mol-1, which is about one half the value for nonredox initiators. 

One possible problem peculiar to a quantitative study of the inhibition of oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons by zinc dialkyl dithiophos-phates is that peroxide decomposition could yield a phenol during the initial-rate measurement. Rate curves for the zinc diisopropyl dithio-phosphate-inhibited oxidation of cumene are shown in Figure 7. In the initial presence of hydroperoxide the uninhibited rate is never reached, and the reaction soon exhibits autoinhibition, presumably caused by the... 

Peroxide Decomposition Mechanism. Since virtually no work has been reported which concerns only the mechanism by which zinc dialkyl di-thiophosphates act as peroxide decomposers, it is pertinent to discuss metal dialkyl dithiophosphates as a whole. The mechanism has been studied both by investigating the products and the decomposition rates of hydroperoxides in the presence of metal dithiophosphates and by measuring the efficiency of these compounds as antioxidants in hydrocarbon autoxidation systems in which hydroperoxide initiation is significant. 

However, a recent kinetic study188 has shown unequivocally that chain initiation proceeds via the usual metal-catalyzed decomposition of the hydroperoxide. Thus, the rate of initiation of the autoxidation of cumene was, within experimental error, equal to the rate of production of radicals in the (Ph3P)4Pd-catalyzed decomposition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide in chlorobenzene at the same temperature and catalyst concentration. Moreover, long induction periods were observed (in the absence of added tert-butyl hydroperoxide), when the cumene was purified by passing it down a column of basic alumina immediately prior to use. Autoxidation of cumene purified by conventional procedures showed only short induction periods. These results further demonstrate the necessity of using highly purified substrates in kinetic studies. 

The phenomenon of catalyst-inhibitor conversion1 2,143,356 may be understood and critical concentration of metal can be deduced by reference to Eq. (280). If decomposition of the hydroperoxide is the source of initiation, it must be formed as rapidly as it is consumed to maintain a steady rate. If termination by metal complex predominates, a steady state occurs when the right-hand side of Eq. (280) equals unity. No oxidation will occur when this quantity is less than unity. Hence, catalyst-inhibitor conversion is observed as the metal concentration is increased to the point that the chain length becomes less than unity. If termination occurs by the bimolecular reaction of peroxy radicals, a chain length of less than unity will result in the depletion of the hydroperoxide until the rate of initiation has decreased to the point where the chain length is unity again. No inhibition is expected or observed. 

The indole oxidation has been shown to proceed via the hydroperoxide intermediate 9 (126), but whether this is formed via coordination catalysis, for example, as suggested in Reaction 41 for a phenol substrate (10— 12,13,14) (124), or via Haber-Weiss initiation, poses the same problem encountered in the organometallic type systems. A reactivity trend observed for Reaction 40 using tetraphenyl-porphyrin complexes (Co(II) Cu(II) Ni(II)) is reasonable in that the Co(II) system is known to give 1 1 02-adducts (at least, at low temperatures) but the reactivity trend also was observed for the catalyzed decomposition rate of 9. It is interesting to note that in Reac-... 

The hydroxyl radical ( OH) generation from decomposition of ozone in alkaline pH mainly depends on the hydroperoxide free-radical initiating step (rate-determining step) in the chain reaction and the regeneration of the superoxide radical ion Oi ... 

Many peroxides affect pol mierization, but those used are available in quantity and the choice is based both on economics and performance. It has been shown that the activity of the organic peroxides in any polymerization is related to their decomposition rates at various temperatures. If elevated cure temperatures, 200- 250°F (93-121°C), are used, benzoyl peroxide is preferred. The amount required is about 1.0 per cent. It is preferred because a long catalyzed tank life results at room temperature. If lower temperatures in the 120 180 F (49-82°C) range are employed, hydroperoxides are more effective. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and cumene and ter- tiary butyl hydroperoxide all find application. Lauroyl peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide, and <-butyl perbenzoate are used in limited amounts. Mixtures of two peroxides are often used, one to initiate the reaction and a second to promote the polymerization once it is started. 

The high effectiveness of the stabilizing action of organotin compounds, noted in many investigations and patents, can be explained by their ability to suppress free-radical chain processes. Dibulyltin dilau-rate, widely used as a stabilizer of polyvinyl chloride, proves to be an effective inhibitor of the radical decomposition of tertiary bulyl hydroperoxide, initiated by cobalt octoate [12]. 

The atactic polypropylene hydroperoxide (initial concentration 0.36 moles/kg) undergoes decompcKition its kinetics, both under vacuum and in the presence of oxygen, is described to a good approximation by a first-order equation. In the range between 25° and 50° C temperature does not influence the decomposition rate. Oxygen pressure, po, results in a decrease of specific rate values, K f, ... 

Most frequently the polymerization process is initiated by free radicals obtained through the decomposition of hydroperoxides, alkyl peroxides, dialkyl peroxides, acyl peroxides, carboxylic ester peracids, salts of (tetraoxo)sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, aliphatic azo compounds and bifunctional azobenzoin initiators. The rate of decomposition of different initiators into free radicals depends on their stmcture and on temperature. A measure of the efficiency of the initiator in the pol5mierization process is the half-decomposition period. 

If in the chain initiated reaction when v,- = const the induction period is independent of the efficiency of retardation action of the inhibitor but is determined by its concentration, then during autoxidation the inhibitor is more slowly consumed when it more efficiently terminate chains because ROOM is more slowly accumulated and the retardation period increases. Then the initiated oxidation of hydrocarbons is retarded only by compounds terminating chains. Autoxidation is retarded by compounds decomposing hydroperoxides. This decomposition, if it is not accompanied by the formation of free radicals, decreases the concentration of the accumulated hydroperoxide and, hence, the autoxidation rate. Hydroperoxide decomposition is induced by compounds of sulfur, phosphorus and various metal complexes, for example, thiophosphate, thiocarbamates of zinc, nickel, and other metals. 

Propagation. Propagation reactions (eqs. 5 and 6) can be repeated many times before termination by conversion of an alkyl or peroxy radical to a nonradical species (7). Homolytic decomposition of hydroperoxides produced by propagation reactions increases the rate of initiation by the production of radicals. 

Autoca.ta.Iysis. The oxidation rate at the start of aging is usually low and increases with time. Radicals, produced by the homolytic decomposition of hydroperoxides and peroxides (eqs. 2—4) accumulated during the propagation and termination steps, initiate new oxidative chain reactions, thereby increasing the oxidation rate. 

Thermally induced homolytic decomposition of peroxides and hydroperoxides to free radicals (eqs. 2—4) increases the rate of oxidation. Decomposition to nonradical species removes hydroperoxides as potential sources of oxidation initiators. Most peroxide decomposers are derived from divalent sulfur and trivalent phosphoms. 

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