An alternative method to estimate the bulk backbiting rate coefficient in acrylate radical polymerization

作者：Marien Yoshi W; Van Steenberge Paul H M; Kockler Katrin B; Barner Kowollik Christopher; Reyniers Marie Francoise; D' hooge Dagmar R; Marin Guy B

来源：Polymer Chemistry, 2016, 7(42): 6521-6528.

DOI：10.1039/c6py01468b

Based on a pulsed laser polymerization-size exclusion chromatography (PLP-SEC) analysis, an alternative method to estimate the bulk backbiting rate coefficient k(bb) in acrylate radical polymerization is presented. For different solvent volume fractions (0-0.75), using the unsaturated analogue of the monomer as a solvent to rule out solvent effects, regression analysis is applied to inflection point data in the low frequency range (< ca. 100 s(-1)) only, which can be scanned with less expensive PLP equipment. Variation of the solvent volume fraction allows the independent alteration of the average mid-chain radical lifetime and improvement in the sensitivity of the method to estimate kbb confidently. The robustness of the method is verified considering in silico generated data including large artificial errors. The method is applied to experimental data of 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) initiated PLP of n-butyl acrylate, taking butyl propionate as the solvent. A kbb value of 171 +/- 21 s(-1) (303 K) is found, in good agreement with literature data. The method presents a generic approach for the estimation of kbb for other acrylate monomers, allows a complete statistical analysis, and can be used as a complementary tool for existing methods. In the long term, the method can even be extended for the simultaneous estimation of the bulk kbb and mid-chain radical propagation rate coefficient k(p, m).

• 出版日期2016