Photosensitized polymerization of butyl acrylate under high pressure

The propagation and termination rate constants for butyl acrylate polymerization under high pressure at 30°C were measured by the rotating sector method. The effect of pressure on the individual rate constant was determined and the activation volumes for the propagation and the termination were obtained as −22,5 cm3/mol and 20,8 cm3/mol, respectively, and the overall activation volume was −26,3 cm3/mol. The rate constant and its dependence on pressure were compared with data previously obtained on methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate polymerizations, and the problem concerning the differences of the pressure effect between these reactions were discussed.