Bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate electroinitiated by tetrabutylammonium salts

The radical electroinitiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate has been performed in solutions of tetrabutylammonium salts. TBANO3 is by far the most efficient, because of the relatively low anodic potential required for the oxidation to the radical. The influence of factors such as temperature, current density, and salt concentration on yields and molecular weights has been examined. The absence of a gel effect allows the onset of a steady state in which the polymerization rate is first‐order with respect to monomer.