Premium
Electrochemical synthesis of poly[2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate] hydrogel: Kinetics and mechanism
Author(s) -
Prashantha K.,
Vasanta K.,
Pai Kumar,
Sherigara B. S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.10299
Subject(s) - hydroxylamine , polymer chemistry , polymerization , monomer , kinetics , chemistry , electrochemistry , solvent , aqueous solution , polymer , electrode , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
2‐Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) was polymerized in an aqueous sulfuric acid– N,N ‐dimethylformamide (DMF) medium in a divided cell by an electrolytically generated mediator species titanium(III). Titanium(III)–hydroxylamine sulfate was used as the initiator redox system. The reaction was confined to the cathode compartment and was found to proceed via a free radical mechanism. Kinetics of polymerization were investigated for variation in initial monomer concentrations, acid concentrations, electrical currents, dielectric constants of the solvent medium, and electrode materials. Chain termination of the polymer was due to coupling of growing macroradicals; also, a fraction of the termination took place by a chain transfer mechanism involving the organic solvent molecules. A suitable mechanism for titanium(III)–hydroxylamine sulfate mediated indirect electropolymerization of HEMA has been proposed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 983–992, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10299