Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.40, No.22, 3987-4001, 2002
Reaction kinetics and gel effect on the polymerization of 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate and 2(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate
Polymerization kinetics at several temperatures of 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate (EEMA) and 2(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (DEMA) in bulk and in dioxane solutions are described. The gel effect was never detected at monomer concentrations equal to or lower than 1 mol L-1, although in the bulk polymerization both monomers display the gel effect at very low conversions. Because of the influence of the efficiency factor f on the polymerization rate, a theoretical kinetic interpretation of the changes in f with monomer and initiator concentrations and kinetic parameters was performed to achieve a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in radical polymerization.