Application of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry towards the elucidation of free radical polymerization mechanisms

The present thesis contributes to fundamental knowledge of acrylate polymerizations, particularly with respect to midchain radicals and the subsequent reactions they can undergo through an in-depth investigation of the mediating ability of 1-octanethiol on
n-butyl acrylate FRP, followed by the synthesis of high purity macromonomer obtained in an optimized reaction. Arrhenius parameters for the propagation rate coefficient of methyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate in bulk are also determined.