First Solvent-Free Synthesis of Poly(N-methylolacrylamide) Via Frontal Free-Radical Polymerization

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-15-2007

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

We report the first synthesis of poly (N-methylolacrylamide) (PNMA) via free-radical frontal polymerization (FP) with solid monomers at ambient pressure. The appropriate amounts of reactants (N-methylolacrylamide) (NMA) and initiator (ammonium persulfate) were mixed together at ambient temperature without solvent. FP was initiated by heating the wall of the tube with a soldering iron, and the resultant hot fronts were allowed to self-propagate throughout the reaction vessel. Once initiated, no further energy was required for polymerization to occur. To suppress the fingers of molten monomer, a small amount of nanosilica was added. We also produced PNMA with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, as solvent by FP, to study the macrokinetics in FP of PNMA without fillers. The front velocity and front temperature dependence on the ammonium persulfate and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone concentration were investigated. The polymer was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. Results show that without postpolymerization solvent removal, waste production can be reduced. Solvent-free FP could be exploited as a means for preparation of PNMA with the potential advantage of higher throughput than solvent-based methods. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of Polymer Science Part A-Polymer Chemistry

Volume

45

Issue

18

First Page

4322

Last Page

4330

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS