THE RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF C-12-C18 ALKYLMETHACRYLATES IN SEMIBATCH CONDITIONS

The radical polymerization of C12-C18 alkylmethacrylates in solution o f mineral oil has been studied in semibatch condition by using 2,2'-az obis (2-methylbutyrronitrile) as initiator. Many kinetic runs of polym erization have been performed in different operative conditions. A kin etic model has been developed to interpret and simulate these runs. C1 2-C18 alkylmethacrylate polymerization in mineral oil concentrated sol ution occurs through a classical radical chain mechanism. Kinetic para meters for the initiator decomposition and for the radical chain propa gation rate resulted the same as reported by the literature. A particu lar behavior of this system is the intervention of the gel effect obse rved from the beginning of the reaction as a consequence of the high i nitial viscosity. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.