Effects of Polymerization Conditions on Particle Size In Dispersion Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in Mixed Hydrophilic Media

Effects of polymerization conditions on particle size were investigated in dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in mixed hydrophilic media with a dispersing agent, polyvinylpyrrolidone. As a result, a correlation of the particle size with the ultimate molecular weight of the polymer was found in the polymerization under various conditions. The larger the size of particle is, the lower the molecular weight of polymer is. In spite of this phenomenon, the paticle sizes were not determined by the molecular weight of polymers alone. Furthermore, particle size is varied with the amount of dispersing agent, and relationship between the particle size and molecular weight of polymer was not unequivocal.