COMPARISON OF THE REACTIVITY OF ACRYLATE AND METHACRYLATE MONOMERS

The kinetics of the first steps of the polymerization of two model com pounds, methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) monomers in cyclohexane solution were investigated by pulse radiolysis with trans ient spectroscopic detection. The transient spectra of the two monomer s were measured to be very similar with a maxima at about 290nm. These maxima belong to alpha-carboxyalkyl radical. From the Gepsilon measu red at the maxima epsilon values were calculated using G=4. Much highe r extinction coefficient was calculated for MMA than for MA This was e xplained on the basis that the higher level of conjugation results in a higher extinction coefficient and higher absorbance at MMA.