Abstract

VIVALDO-LIMA, Eduardo; GARCIA-PEREZ, Rosalba  and  CELEDON-BRIONES, Oswaldo J.. Modeling of the Free-Radical Copolymerization Kinetics with Crosslinking of Methyl Methacrylate / Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Up to High Conversions and Considering Thermal Effects. Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx [online]. 2003, vol.47, n.1, pp.22-33. ISSN 0583-7693.

A mathematical model for the free radical copolymerization kinetics with crosslinking of vinyl / divinyl monomers is used to model the free-radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Good agreement between model predictions and experimental data from the literature is obtained at low conversions, and low crosslinker concentrations. The agreement is also good at high conversions, and intermediate crosslinker concentrations, if thermal effects in ampoule copolymerization are incorporated into the model, through an energy balance. The thermal effects become important when ampoules greater than 0.5 mm in external diameter are used.

Keywords : Crosslinking; copolymerization; polymer network; MMA; EGDMA; mathematical modeling.