Kinetic radical polymerization

Polymerization kinetics. Radical polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by the diphenylphosphinoyl radical has been investigated by time-resolved CW and FT EPR. The diphenylphosphinoyl radicals (DPO) were generated by photo-cleavage of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine (TMDPO) by laser pulses of 335 nm and 10 mJ in benzene solutions. The reaction scheme of the initiation and the first polymerization step are shown in Figure 13. Well-resolved hyperfine structures of the starting radicals (first addition step) were observed for vinyl acetate, ethyl vinyl ether, styrene, methyl methacrylate and... 

The three-step mechanism for free-radical polymerization represented by reactions (6.A)-(6.C) does not tell the whole story. Another type of free-radical reaction, called chain transfer, may also occur. This is unfortunate in the sense that it complicates the neat picture presented until now. On the other hand, this additional reaction can be turned into an asset in actual polymer practice. One of the consequences of chain transfer reactions is a lowering of the kinetic chain length and hence the molecular weight of the polymer without necessarily affecting the rate of polymerization. 

North, A. M., The Kinetics of Free Radical Polymerization, PeTgamon, Ne < York, 1966. 

PHOST is often prepared by polymerization of 4-acetoxystyrene followed by base-catalyzed hydrolysis (Fig. 29). The acetoxystyrene monomer s stabihty and polymerization kinetics allow production of PHOST of higher quaUty than is easily obtained by direct radical polymerization of HOST. The PHOST homopolymer product is then partially or fully derivatized with an acid-cleavable functionaUty to produce the final resist component. 

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. 

Bamford and coworkers [24] also investigated the kinetics and mechanism of free radical polymerization of bulk MMA photoinitiated by Mn2(CO)io or Re2(CO)io in the presence of a series of fluoro-olefms such as ... 

Studies in the photoinitiation of polymerization by transition metal chelates probably stem from the original observations of Bamford and Ferrar [33]. These workers have shown that Mn(III) tris-(acety]acetonate) (Mn(a-cac)3) and Mn (III) tris-(l,l,l-trifluoroacetyl acetonate) (Mn(facac)3) can photosensitize the free radical polymerization of MMA and styrene (in bulk and in solution) when irradiated with light of A = 365 at 25°C and also abstract hydrogen atom from hydrocarbon solvents in the absence of monomer. The initiation of polymerization is not dependant on the nature of the monomer and the rate of photodecomposition of Mn(acac)3 exceeds the rate of initiation and the initiation species is the acac radical. The mechanism shown in Scheme (14) is proposed according to the kinetics and spectral observations ... 

The block copolymer produced by Bamford s metal carbonyl/halide-terminated polymers photoinitiating systems are, therefore, more versatile than those based on anionic polymerization, since a wide range of monomers may be incorporated into the block. Although the mean block length is controllable through the parameters that normally determine the mean kinetic chain length in a free radical polymerization, the molecular weight distributions are, of course, much broader than with ionic polymerization and the polymers are, therefore, less well defined,... 

In the process of radical polymerization a monomolecular short stop of the kinetic chain arises from the delocalization of the unpaired electron along the conjugated chain and from the competition of the developing polyconjugated system with the monomer for the delivery of rr-electrons to the nf-orbitals of a transition metal catalyst in the ionic coordination process. Such a deactivation of the active center may also be due to an interaction with the conjugated bonds of systems which have already been formed. 

Most radicals are transient species. They (e.%. 1-10) decay by self-reaction with rates at or close to the diffusion-controlled limit (Section 1.4). This situation also pertains in conventional radical polymerization. Certain radicals, however, have thermodynamic stability, kinetic stability (persistence) or both that is conferred by appropriate substitution. Some well-known examples of stable radicals are diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitroxides such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-A -oxyl (TEMPO), triphenylniethyl radical (13) and galvinoxyl (14). Some examples of carbon-centered radicals which are persistent but which do not have intrinsic thermodynamic stability are shown in Section 1.4.3.2. These radicals (DPPH, TEMPO, 13, 14) are comparatively stable in isolation as solids or in solution and either do not react or react very slowly with compounds usually thought of as substrates for radical reactions. They may, nonetheless, react with less stable radicals at close to diffusion controlled rates. In polymer synthesis these species find use as inhibitors (to stabilize monomers against polymerization or to quench radical reactions - Section 5,3.1) and as reversible termination agents (in living radical polymerization - Section 9.3). 

The kinetics and mechanism of the thermal and photochemical decomposition of dialkyldiazenes (15) have been comprehensively reviewed by Engel. The use of these compounds as initiators of radical polymerization has been covered by Moad and Solomon2 and Sheppard.50 The general chemistry of azo-compounds has also been reviewed by Koga et cr/./11 Koenig,3 and Smith.3J... 

Most values of / have been measured at zero or low conversions. During polymerization the viscosity of the medium increases and the concentration of monomer decreases dramatically as conversion increases (i.e. as the volume fraction of polymer increases). The value of / is anticipated to drop accordingly. 32, u 9j % For example, with S polymerization in 50% (v/v) toluene at 70 °C initialed by 0.1 M AIBN the instantaneous" / w as determined to vary from 76% at low conversion to <20% at 90-95% conversion (Figure 3.3).32 The assumption that the rate of initiation (kAf) is invariant with conversion (common to most pre 1990s and many recent kinetic studies of radical polymerization) cannot be supported. 

The Chemistry of Radical Polymerization Table 3.5 Selected Kinetic Data for Decomposition of Peroxides ... 

Metal complex-organic halide redox initiation is the basis of ATRP. Further discussion of systems in this context will be found in Section 9.4, The kinetics and mechanism of redox and photoredox systems involving transition metal complexes in conventional radical polymerization have been reviewed by Bam ford. 

Table 4.11 Kinetic Parameters for Propagation in Selected Radical Polymerizations in Bulk Monomer...

In calculations the moments can be treated as concentrations. Kinetic simulation of radical polymerization to evaluate dispcrsitics typically involves evaluation of the moments rather than the complete distribution. This method of moments is accurate as long as the kinetics are independent of chain length. 

The kinetics and mechanism of inhibition by stable radicals has been reviewed by Rozantsev el al,lS3 Ideally, for radicals to be useful inhibitors in radical polymerization they should have the following characteristics ... 

In this chapter, we restrict discussion to approaches based on conventional radical polymerization. Living polymerization processes offer greater scope for controlling polymerization kinetics and the composition and architecture of the resultant polymer. These processes are discussed in Chapter 9. 

The success of the multifunctional initiators in the preparation of block and graft copolymers depends critically on the kinetics and mechanism of radical production. In particular, the initiator efficiency, the susceptibility to and mechanism of transfer to initiator, and the relative stability of the various radical generating functions. Each of these factors has a substantial influence on the nature and homogeneity of the polymer formed. Features of the kinetics of polymerizations initiated by multifunctional initiators have been modeled by O Driscoll and Bevington 64 and Choi and Lei.265... 

There have been many studies on the thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of PMMA.23 24 It is well established that the polymer formed by radical polymerization can be substantially less stable than predicted by consideration of the idealized structure and that the kinetics of polymer degradation are dependent on the conditions used for its preparation. There is still some controversy surrounding the details of thermal degradation mechanisms and, in particular, the initiation of degradation.31... 

Solvent effects on radical polymerization have been reviewed by Coote and Davis,59 Coote et. Barton and Borsig,71 Gromov,72 and Kamachi" 1 A summary of kinetic data is also included in Beuennann and Buback s review.74 Most literature on solvent effects on the propagation step of radical polymerization deals with influences of the medium on rate of polymerization. 

Harrison et c /.146,147 have used PLP (Section 4.5.2) to examine the kinetics of MMA polymerization in the ionic liquid 18 (bmimPFfi). They report a large (ca 2-fold) enhancement in Ay and a reduction in At. This property makes them interesting solvents for use in living radical polymerization (Chapter 9). Ionic liquids have been shown to be compatible with ATRP14 "1 and RAFT.I57,15S However, there are mixed reports on compatibility with NMP.1 Widespread use of ionic liquids in the context of polymerization is limited by the poor solubility of some polymers (including polystyrene) in ionic liquids. 

The kinetics and mechanism of living radical polymerization have been reviewed by Fischer,21 Fukuda et at.,22 and Goto and Fuktida.23 In conventional radical polymerization, new chains are continually formed through initiation w hile existing chains are destroyed by radical-radical termination. The steady state concentration of propagating radicals is 10"7 M and an individual chain will have a lifetime of only 1-10 s before termination within a total reaction lime that is... 

The literature on Nitroxide-Mediated Polymerization (NMP) through 2001 was reviewed by Hawker el al. vu 7 More recently the subject has been reviewed by Sluder and Schulte10 and Solomon.109 NMP is also discussed by Fischer110 and Goto and Fukuda" in their reviews of the kinetics of living radical polymerization and is mentioned in most reviews on living radical polymerization. A simplified mechanism of NMP is shown in Scheme 9.17. 

The preparation of polymer brushes by controlled radical polymerization from appropriately functionalized polymer chains, surfaces or particles by a grafting from approach has recently attracted a lot of attention.742 743 The advantages of growing a polymer brush directly on a surface include well-defined grafts, when the polymerization kinetics exhibit living character, and stability due to covalent attachment of the polymer chains to the surface. Most work has used ATRP or NMP, though papers on the use of RAFT polymerization in this context also have begun to appear. 

Living radical polymerization currently dominates patents, publications and conferences on radical polymerization. The most popular systems, NMP, ATRP and RAFT, while offering unprecedented versatility are not without drawbacks and still have some limitations. Thus, while the progress in this field since the first edition of this book is substantial by any standard, there remains significant scope for new and improved processes. Further studies of the detailed kinetics and... 

German, A.L., Ed. Macromol. Symp., Free Radical Polymerization Kinetics and... 

This book will be of major interest to researchers in industry and in academic institutions as a reference source on the factors which control radical polymerization and as an aid in designing polymer syntheses. It is also intended to serve as a text for graduate students in the broad area of polymer chemistry. The book places an emphasis on reaction mechanisms and the organic chemistry of polymerization. It also ties in developments in polymerization kinetics and physical chemistry of the systems to provide a complete picture of this most important subject. 

Recently the polymeric network (gel) has become a very attractive research area combining at the same time fundamental and applied topics of great interest. Since the physical properties of polymeric networks strongly depend on the polymerization kinetics, an understanding of the kinetics of network formation is indispensable for designing network structure. Various models have been proposed for the kinetics of network formation since the pioneering work of Flory (1 ) and Stockmayer (2), but their predictions are, quite often unsatisfactory, especially for a free radical polymerization system. These systems are of significant conmercial interest. In order to account for the specific reaction scheme of free radical polymerization, it will be necessary to consider all of the important elementary reactions. 

Generalization of Flory s Theory for Vinyl/Divinyl Copolvmerization Using the Crosslinkinq Density Distribution. Flory s theory of network formation (1,11) consists of the consideration of the most probable combination of the chains, namely, it assumes an equilibrium system. For kinetically controlled systems such as free radical polymerization, modifications to Flory s theory are necessary in order for it to apply to a real system. Using the crosslinking density distribution as a function of the birth conversion of the primary molecule, it is possible to generalize Flory s theory for free radical polymerization. 

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