KINETICS OF EMULSION COPOLYMERIZATION OF (2-METHACRYLOYLOXYETHYL) TRIMETHYL AMMONIUM-CHLORIDE AND ACRYLAMIDE WITH GAMMA-RAYS

Inverse emulsion copolymerization of (2-methacryloyloxyethyl) trimethy l ammonium chloride with acrylamide has been studied with gamma ray di latometrically. Aqueous monomer solutions were emulsified in kerosene with a blend of two surfactants (Span80 and OP10). The gel effect is e vident from the increase of the molecular weight with conversion and a lso from the percentage conversion versus time curves. Monomer reactiv ity ratios have been derived as r(AM) = 0.23 and r(DMC) = 1.40 at pH 6 .8. Initial emulsions and final inverse latexes displayed the same bro ad size distribution. The effects of dose rate, concentration and comp osition of the monomer, emulsifier concentration, etc. on polymerizati on rate and intrinsic viscosity of polymer have been examined. The rat e of polymerization (R-p) can be represented by R-p proportional to D- 0.87[M](1.37)[E](0.53). The overall activation energy for the rate of polymerization is 16.9 kJ/mol (32-55 degrees C). Based on these experi mental results, some aspects of the polymerization mechanism are discu ssed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.