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Effect of solvent on the free radical polymerization of N , N ‐dimethylacrylamide
Author(s) -
Valdebenito Andrea,
Encinas María Victoria
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2856
Subject(s) - polymerization , polymer chemistry , solvent , chemistry , aqueous solution , polymer , radical polymerization , hydrogen bond , intermolecular force , solvent effects , photopolymer , solution polymerization , precipitation polymerization , amide , molecule , organic chemistry
The free radical photopolymerization of N , N ‐dimethylacrylamide was investigated at 25 °C and at low conversion in several solvents ranging from weak polar solvents to water. The polymerization is strongly accelerated in the aqueous medium, with the polymerization rate increasing one order of magnitude when the solvent is changed from an organic one to aqueous medium. These results were analysed in terms of macroradical conformation, effect of medium viscosity, aggregate formation, hydrogen bond formation and effect of temperature. The results suggest that the main factor that controls the polymerization rate is a kinetic effect due to the hydrogen bonding between the amide carbonyl group and water molecules. Also, we found that polymer properties, such as the thermodynamic quality of the solvent for the polymer backbone and molecular weight control using transfer agents, are influenced by the intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry