| The objective of this work is to conduct an experimental and theoretical investigation of the initiation reactions for the suspension polymerization of methyl methacrylate as a function of temperature and initiator concentration. Initiation reactions constitute the forcing function for polymerization reactions. In the modelling of free radical polymerizations the initiation step is assumed to be a first order process, independent from other reactions. This assumption has the net effect of decoupling the initiation step from the rest of the polymerization conditions.;The spectroscopic analysis of the polymers, combined with the information on the molecular weights, allows for the identification and quantification of the type and number of initiator fragments and the residual initiator concentration contained in the polymer. The interpretation of the quantitative end group-molecular weight analysis, as a function of conversion, initiator concentration and temperature, results in the identification of the termination mechanisms, the estimation of the initiator efficiencies and a model that yields consistent estimates of the reaction rate constants. |
