Effect of Iron(III) Ions on Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Initiated by the p-Methylaminophenol-H202 Redo x System

Abstract

Effect of iron(III) ions on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by the p-methylaminophenol-H202 redox system was investigated at 300C. The rate of polymerization increased significantly by addition of a trace amount of iron(ll). The mole ratio of reacted H202 to p-methylaminophenol (MAP) was about 2 in the presence of MMA, whereas in the absence of MMA it was greater than 2. Polymerization of MMA did not take place without H202. These results suggested that (1) polymerization could be initiated by OH radicals, ( 2 ) a part of MAP radicals is consumed for primary radical termination, while a large number of those is further oxidized by iron(III), and ( 3 ) OH radiCals participate in polymerization of MAP in the absence of MMA.