ATR-UV monitoring of methyl methacrylate miniemulsion polymerization for determination of monomer conversion

Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) UV spectroscopy has been used to monitor monomer conversion in methyl methacrylate miniemulsion polymerization. It was found that the vinylic groups of methyl methacrylate strongly absorb the UV light with a maximum absorption at 225 nm. This absorption peak decreases as monomer is converted to polymer. The polymer has a strong absorption at a lower UV region. The results from this feasibility study indicate that ATR‐UV sensor technique has a great potential to be used for on‐line or in‐line process monitoring in emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization. With a partial least square (PLS) calibration model, very good prediction the monomer conversion was obtained. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1471–1475, 2006