AQUEOUS POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL-METHACRYLATE INITIATED BY POTASSIUM PEROXYDISULFATE-ASCORBIC ACID REDOX SYSTEM

The aqueous polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the redox system K2S208-ascorbic acid has been studied at 35C under the influence of oxygen. The rate of polymerization increases with increasing ascorbic acid concentration at low activator concentration, remains constant within the range 4.375 x 10-3 to 11.25 x 10-3 mole/liter, and at higher ascorbic acid concentration again decreases. The rate varies linearly with monomer concentration. The initial rate and the limiting conversion increase with increasing polymerization temperature. Organic solvents (water-miscible only) and small amounts of neutral salts like KC1 and Na2S04 depress the initial rate and the maximum conversion. The addition of small amounts of salts like Cu2+ and Mn2+ increases the initial rate, but no appreciable increase in the limiting conversion is observed. © 1979, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.