Methyl methacrylate polymerization initiated by triethylborane–peroxide mixtures

Abstract The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by triethylborane or triethylborane–peroxide mixtures was studied. The rate of initiation by a mixture of triethylborane and tert‐butyl peroxide was found to be first‐order in peroxide. The order in triethylborane changes from one at low triethylborane/peroxide to nearly zero at high triethylborane/peroxide. The possibility of a mechanism involving a fast reaction followed by a slow reaction that would initiate the polymerization is discussed.