Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with mechano-chemically synthesized macroinitiators

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by acrylonitrile- based homopolymers and copolymers synthesized mechanochemically by vibratory milling has been studied. The factors influencing the conversion and poly(methyl mehtacrylate) molecular weight are discussed. Both characteristics depend on polymerization parameters (reaction time, temperature and initiator concentration) as well as on macroinitiator synthesis conditions (duration of the vibratory milling process, comonomer ratio). The polymerization product consists of poly(methyl methacrylate) and small amounts of poly(acrylonitrile-g-methyl methacrylate)copolymer.