Mechanistic Study of the Light-Induced Copolymerization of Maleimide/Vinyl Ether Systems
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-11-2000
Department
Polymers and High Performance Materials
Abstract
Full Paper: Real-time infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the high-speed copolymerization of N-substituted alkyl maleimide (MI) and vinyl ether (VE) mixtures upon UV exposure, with or without photoinitiator. The monomer feed composition was shown to play a decisive role in the polymerization kinetics of each monomer. When VE is in excess, the two monomers disappear at similar rates to yield in alternating copolymer. When MI is in excess, the copolymerization and the MI homopolymerization occur simultaneously to yield a copolymer with isolated VE units. The reaction scheme proposed to account for the kinetic data is based on the homopolymerization of a donor-acceptor complex, with VE. radicals acting as the main propagating species. The kinetic chain length was evaluated from quantum yield measurements performed under controlled initiation conditions and found to be on the order of 10(3). The propagation rate constant of the VE/MI copolymerization was calculated to be twice that of the MI homopolymerization.
Publication Title
Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Volume
201
Issue
13
First Page
1493
Last Page
1503
Recommended Citation
Decker, C.,
Bianchi, C.,
Morel, F.,
Jönsson, S.,
Hoyle, C. E.
(2000). Mechanistic Study of the Light-Induced Copolymerization of Maleimide/Vinyl Ether Systems. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 201(13), 1493-1503.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/4100