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Use of block copolymer surfactants in the inverse‐suspension polymerization of acrylamide
Author(s) -
HernándezBarajas José,
Hunkeler David J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1995.220060712
Subject(s) - polymerization , materials science , copolymer , monomer , pulmonary surfactant , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , polyethylene glycol , acrylamide , chain transfer , molar mass , polymer , radical polymerization , composite material , engineering
A comprehensive experimental investigation of the inverse microsuspension polymerization of acrylamide using an oil‐soluble initiator and a block copolymeric surfactant whose hydrophobic miety is poly(12‐hydroxystearic acid) and whose hydrophilic moeity is polyethylene oxide was carried out. It was found that the initial polymerization rate was first order with respect to molar monomer concentration, first order with respect to molar initiator concentration and zeroth order with respect to molar emulsifier concentration. Based on these experimental findings, a mechanism was proposed which includes initiation, propagation transfer to monomer and termination. It also includes transfer to impurities which are believed to be found in the surfactant. The kinetic model developed from the proposed mechanism is found to be in good agreement with the experimental conversion and weight‐average molecular weight data. Comparing with sorbitan esters of fatty acids, the copolymeric surfactant provides higher polymerization rate and very high and linear molecular weight comparable to those obtained by solution polymerization.