| Abstract: | Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate-maltose has been investigated in aqueous nitric acid under nitrogen in the temperature range 20.5-35°C. The dependence of the initial rate of polymerization and the initial rate of ceric ion consumption on maltose, Ce(IV), and monomer concentrations has been determined. The reaction orders were found to depend on ceric ion concentration. At a moderately high Ce(IV) concentration (1 × 10?3mol litre?1) the orders were 1/2 and 3/2 with respect to maltose and monomer concentration, respectively, and independent of Ce(IV) concentration. But at a low Ce(IV) concentration (4 × 10?4mol litre?1) the orders with respect to monomer and Ce(IV) changed to 1 and 1/2, respectively. The effect of temperature was also examined. The average molecular weight, as determined by size-exclusion chromacography, was found to depend on maltose, Ce(IV), and monomer concentrations, as well as on temperature. |
