Pulse radiolysis study on polymerization kinetics in organic solvent: 2-ethylhexyl acrylate

Pulse radiolysis with kinetic spectroscopic detection was applied to study the first steps of the polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) in cyc lohexane solution. The absorption spectra and the kinetic characteristics o f the intermediates were investigated in solutions of different monomer con centrations. Immediately after the pulse the maximum of the spectrum was at similar to 250 nm that is characteristic of the cyclohexyl radical. This m aximum was gradually shifted in time to above 300 nm indicating the appeara nce of carboxyalkyl radicals, For higher concentration solutions a further shift was observed that can be attributed to the absorbance of the oligomer radicals formed. From the kinetic curves the rate coefficients of initiati on and termination were calculated and the rate coefficient of propagation was estimated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.