The Effect of Solvents on the Rate of Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

Abstract

The polymerizations,of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated thermally by α, α′-azobis(iso-butyronitrile) (AIBN) and photosensitized by α, α′-azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile) (ACN) have been carried out in various solvents. The thermal and photosensitized polymerization rates (Rpth and -Rpph, respectively) changed markedly and increased in the following order with respect to solvents; 1,1,l-trichloroethane <1,2,4-trichlorobenzene <1,1, 2,2-tetrachloroethane