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A Critical Investigation on the Occurrence of Microwave Effects in Emulsion Polymerizations
Author(s) -
Hayden Stephan,
Studentschnig Alexander F. H.,
Schober Sigurd,
Kappe C. Oliver
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201400279
Subject(s) - microwave , emulsion polymerization , emulsion , methyl methacrylate , materials science , polymerization , polymer chemistry , styrene , silicon carbide , decomposition , chemical engineering , chemistry , copolymer , composite material , polymer , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The existence of special microwave effects in the emulsion polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate with two different initiators is investigated. All the experiments are conducted in either Pyrex or silicon carbide reaction vessels employing a dedicated single‐mode microwave reactor and are monitored with a dual temperature‐measurement system consisting of an external infrared sensor and an internal fiber optical probe. The goal of this study is to study the influence of the electromagnetic field on both the decomposition rate of the radical initiators and on the emulsion polymerization itself. For both types of transformation, no direct influence of the electromagnetic field can be observed, therefore ruling out the occurrence of any type of specific or nonthermal microwave effects in these reactions.