Gamma radiation-induced bulk polymerization of some methyl aryloxymethacrylates

The kinetics of γ-radiation-induced bulk polymerization of methyl phenoxymethacrylate and methyl paracresoxymethacrylate was studied at dose rates of 0.3 and 0.075 Mrad/h and at temperatures of 0 and 30°C. The polymerization was first order with respect to the monomers and the rate of polymerization had a direct dependence on dose rate. The activation energy value for the polymerization of methyl phenoxymethacrylate was 1.2 and 0.7 kcal/mol for methyl paracresoxymethacrylate. The polymerization proceeded predominantly by an ionic mechanism.