Gamma radiation‐induced bulk polymerization of some methyl aryloxymethacrylates

Abstract The kinetics of γ‐radiation‐induced bulk polymerization of methyl phenoxymethacrylate and methyl paracresoxymethacrylate was studied at dose rates of 0.3 and 0.075 Mrad/h and at temperatures of 0 and 30°C. The polymerization was first order with respect to the monomers and the rate of polymerization had a direct dependence on dose rate. The activation energy value for the polymerization of methyl phenoxymethacrylate was 1.2 and 0.7 kcal/mol for methyl paracresoxymethacrylate. The polymerization proceeded predominantly by an ionic mechanism.