Photo-copolymerization kinetics of Acrylonitrile withStyrene in the Presence of Imidazolium-p-chlorophenacylide

Abstract

The copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with styrene (Sty) initiated by αα´-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in the presence of imidazolium-pchlorophenacylide (ICPY) as a photoretarder at 30ºC has been investigated. The rate of polymerization (R_p) is a direct function of [AN] and [AIBN] but is an inverse function of [ICPY] and [Styrene]. The initiator exponent value is 0.63 instead of 0.5. The monomer(s) exponent value is unity. The ylide (ICPY) is not incorporated in the copolymer, which has been evidenced by NMR-spectroscopy. Kinetic data and UV studies indicate that the ICPY does not affect the rate of termination (R_t) as well as rate of propagation (R´_p).