Dispersion polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate initiated by macromonomeric azoinitiator

The free radical dispersion polymerization of styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by poly(oxyethylene) (PEO) macroazoinimer (MIM-400) in water/ethanol, was investigated at three different temperatures (50, 60 and 80°C) for seven polymerization times (3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h). PSt-PEO and PMMA-PEO networks were obtained. In each case, polymer gel fractions depend on the polymerization temperature and polymerization time. With the same initial concentration of MIM-400, maximum gel fraction was found at 80 wt.-% with St copolymerization while 100 wt.-% in case of copolymerization with MMA at 80°C for 48 h. © Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 1999