Radical polymerisation

A further source of irregularity can arise from the mode of polymerisation radicals, or ions, can in theory add to a monomer in either a head-to-tail (a) or head-to-head (b) fashion Figure 4.8). 

If the depolymerising radical has the same structure as the polymerising radical ... 

High-energy radiation such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, X-rays, y rays and electron beams can initiate polymerisation. Radicals formed into polymeric materials during sterilisation by such radiation have a long life, especially in the bulk of the material, and can initiate new polymerisation. Such an initiation process has been used widely to modify polymeric surfaces by grafting another polymer. 

HOOC-CH-CHa-Rttt) polymerisation radical of acrylic acid H3O (flow system) 300 9 =20,67 = 22,06 Fin ... 

Proportion of living chains in a classical free-radical polymerisation [radicals]... 

In further work Ohtani and co-workers [59] characterised branched alkyl end groups of PMMA polymerised radically with 2,2 -azobis(2,4,4-trimethylpentane) (ABTMP) or benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator by Py-GC. On the resulting pyrogram at 540 °C, characteristic products formed from the end group moiety due to the initiator, such as isobutane, isobutene, and so on, were clearly separated from those from the main chain. Then number-average molecular weight (M ) of PMMA was determined by the... 

Unfortunately this route gives only a 40% yield IJ. Amer. Cham. Soc 1951, 73, 3237) in the Grignard reaction, largely because benzyl Grignard reagents easily give radicals which polymerise. In any case, it s poor tactics to chop off carbon atoms one at a time, and a better disconnection would be ... 

Sonochemistry is also proving to have important applications with polymeric materials. Substantial work has been accomplished in the sonochemical initiation of polymerisation and in the modification of polymers after synthesis (3,5). The use of sonolysis to create radicals which function as radical initiators has been well explored. Similarly the use of sonochemicaHy prepared radicals and other reactive species to modify the surface properties of polymers is being developed, particularly by G. Price. Other effects of ultrasound on long chain polymers tend to be mechanical cleavage, which produces relatively uniform size distributions of shorter chain lengths. 

Secondary amines give only a monosubstituted product. Both of these reactions are thermally reversible. The product with ammonia (3,3, 3 -nitrilottispropionamide [2664-61-1C H gN O ) (5) is frequently found in crystalline acrylamide as a minor impurity and affects the free-radical polymerisation. An extensive study (8) has determined the stmctural requirements of the amines to form thermally reversible products. Unsymmetrical dialkyl hydrasines add through the unsubstituted nitrogen in basic medium and through the substituted nitrogen in acidic medium (9)). 

The synthesis of the high molecular weight polymer from chlorotrifluoroethylene [79-38-9] has been carried out in bulk (2 >—21 solution (28—30), suspension (31—36), and emulsion (37—41) polymerisation systems using free-radical initiators, uv, and gamma radiation. Emulsion and suspension polymers are more thermally stable than bulk-produced polymers. Polymerisations can be carried out in glass or stainless steel agitated reactors under conditions (pressure 0.34—1.03 MPa (50—150 psi) and temperature 21—53°C) that require no unique equipment. 

Free Radical Initiators for the Suspension Polymerisation of Vinyl Chloride, Technical Publication 30.90, Lucidol Division, Pennwalt Corp., Buffalo, N.Y., 1976. 

A third source of initiator for emulsion polymerisation is hydroxyl radicals created by y-radiation of water. A review of radiation-induced emulsion polymerisation detailed efforts to use y-radiation to produce styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and other similar polymers (60). The economics of y-radiation processes are claimed to compare favorably with conventional techniques although worldwide iadustrial appHcation of y-radiation processes has yet to occur. Use of y-radiation has been made for laboratory study because radical generation can be turned on and off quickly and at various rates (61). 

The ionic nature of the radicals generated, by whatever technique, can contribute to the stabilisation of latex particles. Soapless emulsion polymerisations can be carried out usiag potassium persulfate as initiator (62). It is often important to control pH with buffets dutiag soapless emulsion p olymerisation. 

Cha.in-Tra.nsferAgents. The most commonly employed chain-transfer agents ia emulsion polymerisation are mercaptans, disulfides, carbon tetrabromide, and carbon tetrachloride. They are added to control the molecular weight of a polymer, by transferring a propagating radical to the chain transfer agent AX (63) ... 

The newly formed short-chain radical A then quickly reacts with a monomer molecule to create a primary radical. If subsequent initiation is not fast, AX is considered an inhibitor. Many have studied the influence of chain-transfer reactions on emulsion polymerisation because of the interesting complexities arising from enhanced radical desorption rates from the growing polymer particles (64,65). Chain-transfer reactions are not limited to chain-transfer agents. Chain-transfer to monomer is ia many cases the main chain termination event ia emulsion polymerisation. Chain transfer to polymer leads to branching which can greatiy impact final product properties (66). 

Figure 4c illustrates interfacial polymerisation encapsulation processes in which the reactant(s) that polymerise to form the capsule shell is transported exclusively from the continuous phase of the system to the dispersed phase—continuous phase interface where polymerisation occurs and a capsule shell is produced. This type of encapsulation process has been carried out at Hquid—Hquid and soHd—Hquid interfaces. An example of the Hquid—Hquid case is the spontaneous polymerisation reaction of cyanoacrylate monomers at the water—solvent interface formed by dispersing water in a continuous solvent phase (14). The poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) produced by this spontaneous reaction encapsulates the dispersed water droplets. An example of the soHd—Hquid process is where a core material is dispersed in aqueous media that contains a water-immiscible surfactant along with a controUed amount of surfactant. A water-immiscible monomer that polymerises by free-radical polymerisation is added to the system and free-radical polymerisation localised at the core material—aqueous phase interface is initiated thereby generating a capsule sheU (15). 

The chemical iadustry manufactures a large variety of semicrystalline ethylene copolymers containing small amounts of a-olefins. These copolymers are produced ia catalytic polymerisation reactions and have densities lower than those of ethylene homopolymers known as high density polyethylene (HDPE). Ethylene copolymers produced ia catalytic polymerisation reactions are usually described as linear ethylene polymers, to distiaguish them from ethylene polymers containing long branches which are produced ia radical polymerisation reactions at high pressures (see Olefin POLYMERS, LOWDENSITY polyethylene). 

Organic peroxides are used in the polymer industry as thermal sources of free radicals. They are used primarily to initiate the polymerisation and copolymerisation of vinyl and diene monomers, eg, ethylene, vinyl chloride, styrene, acryUc acid and esters, methacrylic acid and esters, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, and butadiene (see Initiators). They ate also used to cute or cross-link resins, eg, unsaturated polyester—styrene blends, thermoplastics such as polyethylene, elastomers such as ethylene—propylene copolymers and terpolymers and ethylene—vinyl acetate copolymer, and mbbets such as siUcone mbbet and styrene-butadiene mbbet. 

K. K. Diediker and P. Oldring, "Chemistry and Technology of UV EB Formulations for Coatings, Inks Paiats," Vol. 3, Photoinitiators for Free Radical and Cationic Polymerisation, ShoHum International, 1991. 

Free-Radical Addition. In free-radical addition polymerisation, the propagating species is a free radical. The free radicals, R-, ate most commonly generated by the thermal decomposition of a peroxide or aso initiator, 1 (see Initiators, free-RADICAl) ... 

ESBR and SSBR are made from two different addition polymerisation techniques one radical and one ionic. ESBR polymerisation is based on free radicals that attack the unsaturation of the monomers, causing addition of monomer units to the end of the polymer chain, whereas the basis for SSBR is by use of ionic initiators (qv). 

Eree-radical initiation of emulsion copolymers produces a random polymerisation in which the trans/cis ratio caimot be controlled. The nature of ESBR free-radical polymerisation results in the polymer being heterogeneous, with a broad molecular weight distribution and random copolymer composition. The microstmcture is not amenable to manipulation, although the temperature of the polymerisation affects the ratio of trans to cis somewhat. 

Oiganometallic usage is shown in the piepaiation of titanium- oi vanadium-containing catalysts foi the polymerisation of styrene or butadiene by the reaction of dimethyl sulfate with the metal chloride (145). Free-radical activity is proposed for the quaternary product from dimethylaruline and dimethyl sulfate and for the product from l,l,4,4-tetramethyl-2-tetra2ene and dimethyl sulfate (146,147). 

Tetraneopentyltitanium [36945-13-8] Np Ti, forms from the reaction of TiCl and neopentyllithium ia hexane at —80° C ia modest yield only because of extensive reduction of Ti(IV). Tetranorbomyltitanium [36333-76-3] can be prepared similarly. When exposed to oxygen, (NpO)4Ti forms. If it is boiled ia ben2ene, it decomposes to neopentane. When dissolved ia monomers, eg, a-olefins or dienes, styrene, or methyl methacrylate, it initiates a slow polymerisation (211,212). Results from copolymerisation studies iadicate a radical mechanism (212). Ultraviolet light iacreases the rate of dissociation to... 

Chain transfer also occurs to the emulsifying agents, leading to their permanent iacorporation iato the product. Chain transfer to aldehydes, which may be formed as a result of the hydrolysis of the vinyl acetate monomer, tends to lower the molecular weight and slow the polymerisation rate because of the lower activity of the radical that is formed. Thus, the presence of acetaldehyde condensates as a poly(vinyl alcohol) impurity strongly retards polymerisation (91). Some of the initiators such as lauryl peroxide are also chain-transfer agents and lower the molecular weight of the product. 

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