Catalytic and inhibiting effects of ferrocene on the bulk radical–coordination polymerization of methyl methacrylate from the standpoint of formal kinetics

Abstract

The kinetic curves and rates of bulk radical–coordination polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by the benzoyl peroxide–ferrocene system at 293–373 K, initial benzoyl peroxide concentrations of 10^–4–10^–1 mol/L, and a constant initial ferrocene concentration of 10^–3 mol/L have been calculated using a mathematical model in which the process is considered from the standpoint of formal kinetics. The calculations have demonstrated that, at low methyl methacrylate conversions, ferrocene catalyzes the process at any benzoyl peroxide concentration; at medium and high methyl methacrylate conversions, deficient amounts of ferrocene with respect to benzoyl catalyze the process as well, while excess ferrocene inhibits the process. The observed effect is explained by the specific ferrocene–benzoyl peroxide interaction, which, depending on the ferrocene: benzoyl peroxide ratio, either increases or decreases the concentration of radicals in the reaction mass.