Kinetics and reaction mechanism of template polymerization investigated by conductimetric measurements. Part 1. Radical polymerization of sodium acrylate

The radical homopolymerization of sodium acrylate in water in the presence of potassium peroxodisulphate as initiator was investigator through the use of conductimetry and dilatometry. The kinetics were monitored while varying either the monomer concentration or temperature. Initial rate and order of reaction were determined with good accuracy in a comparative way. The conductimetric method proved superior in monitoring the reaction progress at temperatures higher than 50°C, allowing the activation energy of the reaction to be determined.