Kinetics of the inhibited oxidative polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of an anti-oxidant (AO)

The kinetics of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and dimethyltriethylene glycol (TGM-3) have been studied in the presence of oxygen and of an anti-oxidant (AO). The induction period depends on the monomer concentration in a closed system and increases with the AO content only in a relatively narrow range of concentration. A method is suggested for estimating the initiation rate of the polymerization. The ratio of the rate constant of the phenol inhibited reaction to that of a peroxide radical reaction with the monomer has been evaluated. The solubility of oxygen in MMA and TGM-3 has been determined.