PULSE-RADIOLYSIS STUDIES ON THE POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLATES AND METHACRYLATES

EB (electron beam) initiated polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) an d methyl methacrylate (MMA) in dilute cyclohexane solution was investi gated by pulse radiolysis with kinetic spectroscopic detection. The ma ximum in the absorption spectrum of the methacryl radical was shifted somewhat lower wavelength as compared to the acryl radical (lambda(max ) = 287 nm in MA and lambda(max) = 292 nm in MMA solution). From the d ecay curves rate parameters of termination (2k(t)) were calculated. Th e decay depart from the simple second order kinetics when measured at high concentrations and the decay curves can be fitted only by combina tion of two second order decays. The deviation from the simple second order kinetics at high doses was attributed to termination with primar y radicals.