Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in aqueous emulsions

Abstract The kinetics of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in emulsions has been examined. The initial rate of polymerization is independent of the amount of discontinuous monomer phase present and it is concluded that initiation occurs in the aqueous phase. Monomer is observed to disappear from the discontinuous phase more quickly than it polymerizes, and probably forms a monomer‐polymer mixture with the polymer produced. An increase in the subsequent rate of polymerization is attributed to the fact that propagation of the growing polymer chains occurs in this monomer–polymer mixture and this entails a decrease in the velocity of termination due to the high viscosity of such mixtures.