Vinyl polymerization. III. Polymerization of acrylamide initiated by cobaltic ions in aqueous solution

Abstract

Polymerization of Acrylamide initiated by cobaltic ions in aqueous solution at 15°C. and 20°C. in HClO₄ and H₂SO₄ media have been studied. Kinetics have been followed by determining the rate of cobaltic ion disappearance as well as monomer disappearance with variations in cobaltic, monomer and hydrogen ion concentrations, temperature, ionic strength, etc. Besides polymer reaction it has been observed that side reactions like water oxidation and monomer oxidation also contribute to rate of cobaltic ion disappearance. Certain anomalous results in H₂SO₄ medium have been observed. A reaction scheme involving CoOH²⁺ and Co³⁺ as initiators in HClO₄ and H₂SO₄ media respectively and mixed termination-mutual and linear-has been suggested. Certain rate parameters involving rate constants for initiation, propagation, termination and the corresponding activation energies have been evaluated.