Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"The emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by ultrasound has been studied at ambient temperature using sodium lauryl sulfate as the surfactant.

The source of the free radical for the initiation process was found to come from the degradation of the sodium lauryl sulfate presumably in aqueous phase. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the poly (methyl methacrylate) obtained varied from 2,500,000 to 3,500,000 g mole-1 and the conversion for the polymerization was up to 70%.

The polymerization rate, the number of polymer particles generated and the free radical concentration in initiation process were found to increase with acoustic intensity, argon gas flow, surfactant concentration.

The polymer weight average molecular weight was found to increase with acoustic intensity and argon gas flow rate. It was found to decrease with increasing surfactant concentration. The polymerization rates obtained at ambient temperature were found be similar to or higher than those obtained from the conventional higher temperature thermal emulsion polymerization. Deviations from the Smith-Ewart kinetics were observed"--Abstract, p. iv

Advisor(s)

Stoffer, James O.

Committee Member(s)

Van-De-Mark, Michael R.
Collier, Harvest l.
Manuel, Oliver K., 1936-
Johnson, James W., 1930-2002

Department(s)

Chemistry

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Chemistry

Comments

Title page incorrectly shows author's year of birth as 1960; it is actually 1959.

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Summer 1996

Pagination

xviii, 167 pages

Rights

© 1996 Hsin-Chieh Joe Chou, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 7201

Print OCLC #

36458033

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