Kinetics and Modeling of Methacrylic Acid Radical Polymerization in Aqueous Solution

Batch radical polymerization of non‐ionized methacrylic acid, 30 wt.‐% in aqueous solution, has been studied at 50 °C and ambient pressure with 2‐mercaptoethanol (ME) as the chain‐transfer agent (CTA). Initial polymerization rate decreases with CTA concentration, which has been varied up to 20 mol‐%...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecular reaction engineering 2013-06, Vol.7 (6), p.267-276
Main Authors: Wittenberg, Nils F. G., Buback, Michael, Hutchinson, Robin A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aqueous-solution polymerization
chain-transfer agent
kinetics (polym.)
methacrylic acid
simulations
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Batch radical polymerization of non‐ionized methacrylic acid, 30 wt.‐% in aqueous solution, has been studied at 50 °C and ambient pressure with 2‐mercaptoethanol (ME) as the chain‐transfer agent (CTA). Initial polymerization rate decreases with CTA concentration, which has been varied up to 20 mol‐%. A kinetic model is presented which includes chain‐length‐dependent termination and uses an empirical function to account for the dependence of termination rate on both monomer conversion and molar mass of the polymeric product. In conjunction with PREDICI simulation, this model affords for an adequate representation of the measured monomer conversion vs. time profiles. Kinetics of methacrylic acid radical polymerization in aqueous solution, with chain transfer by 2‐mercaptoethanol, are measured and modeled with the dependence of termination rate on radical chain length, on monomer conversion, and on polymer molar mass being taken into account. PREDICI simulation allows for an adequate representation of measured monomer conversion vs. time profiles.
ISSN:1862-832X
1862-8338
DOI:10.1002/mren.201200089