Free radical polymerization kinetics of n‐lauryl methacrylate

The kinetics of free radical polymerization of n‐lauryl methacrylate (dodecyl methacrylate) were studied at 60 and 80°C in bulk and in benzene solution. The analysis of the data showed the kinetic results deviated from classical behaviour and that this deviation could be explained by the chain length dependence of the diffusion controlled termination rate constant, K t . Primary radical termination is explicitly considered and rejected as being insignificant in this work. Because of its lessened flexibility poly(n‐lauryl methacrylate) shows a greater chain length dependence for K t than does poly(methylmethacrylate).