REACTANT PARTITIONING IN FREE-RADICAL HETEROPHASE POLYMERIZATION - THE CASE OF INVERSE MICROEMULSION POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLAMIDE

Conversion curves have been determined at 60-degrees-C for the polymerization of acrylamide in percolating inverse microemulsions. Ammonium peroxodisulphate (APS) and dibenzoyl peroxide (DBP) were used as initiators of free-radical polymerization in the presence or absence of potassium nitrosodisulphonate (Fremy's salt, FS). The percolation decreases the rate of polymerization of acrylamide initiated by APS. The polymerization is inhibited by FS. After an inhibition period, retardation of acrylamide polymerization is more pronounced in non-percolating microemulsions. No inhibition periods were observed for DBP-initiated polymerization of acrylamide. The percolation shortens the time interval of the 'slow' polymerization of acrylamide, but the rates of rapid acrylamide polymerization above 10% conversion are the same for percolating and for non-percolating inverse microemulsions. The polymer particle diameter is a function of acrylamide/water weight ratio and of [water]/[AOT] (AOT: bis(2-ethylhexyl)-sulphosuccinate sodium salt) molar ratio. No effect of the initiator's nature either in the presence or in the absence of FS was found. The results are interpreted on the basis of initiator and/or nitroxide radical partitioning between oil and water phases of the inverse microemulsion, and are discussed with respect to the mechanism of acrylamide polymerization and polymer particle formation proposed for non-percolating inverse microemulsions.