Abstract
Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) was synthesized using ultrasonic irradiation without chemical initiator. Effects of ultrasound intensity on time course of conversion to polymer, number average molecular weight, and polydispersity were investigated in order to synthesize the polymer with low molecular weight distribution (i.e., low polydispersity). According to the experimental results, a kinetic model for polymer synthesis under ultrasonic irradiation was constructed with considering both polymerization and polymer degradation. Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) was also synthesized at low reaction temperature. The constructed model was applied to the low-temperature synthesis process.
