Kinetics of the Free-Radical Copolymerization of Isobornyl Methacrylate (IBoMA) and Diethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) in the Entire Composition Range

E. R. SOULÉ; J. BORRAJO; R. J. J. WILLIAMS

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2006 vol. 46 p. 1641 - 1648

0032-3888

The aim of the present study is to provide a quantitativedescription of the significant changes observed in therate of a free-radical crosslinking polymerization whenvarying the crosslinker concentration from 0 to 100%.The kinetics of the free-radical copolymerization ofisobornyl methacrylate and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate,in the entire composition range, was determinedby differential scanning calorimetry at 80°C, using benzoylperoxide as initiator. A simple kinetic model describinginitiation, propagation, and termination steps byrelevant mechanisms was used to fit the experimentalcurves of rate of polymerization vs. time up to conversionsclose to the maximum in the polymerization rate.In this range, the initiator efficiency could be consideredconstant and radical trapping negligible, a fact that enabledto keep a minimum number of adjustable parameters.The simple kinetic model provided an explanation ofthe significant changes observed in the polymerizationrate when changing the blend composition. POLYM. ENG.SCI., 46:1641–1648, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers