Tl(III) initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate in micellar phase

The polymerization kinetics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was studied, using Tl(III)‐cyclohexanone (CH) redox system as initiator, in the presence of emulsifier i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and thallium triacetate (TX‐100)] over a temperature range of 25–45°C. The effect of various concentrations of MMA, Tl(III), cyclohexanone, H⁺, and varying ionic strengths on the rate of polymerization, rate of Tl(III) consumption (?R_Tl), and the percentage of monomer conversion were examined in the presence of 0.015M SDS. The kinetic results of polymerization in the absence and presence of 0.015M SDS were compared in terms of overall activation energy (E_a) for the process. The viscosity‐average molecular weight (M_V) of the polymers, obtained in the presence of varying concentrations of anionic surfactant (SDS), was also determined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2480–2485, 2004