Complex of cross-linked polyvinylamine with Cu(II) as catalyst for vinyl polymerization Original Research Article

A complex of polyvinylamine (PVAm) and Cu(II) was synthesized and IR, TG and XPS were employed to examine its structure. It has been found that PVAm-Cu(II) complex/sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) system can be used as initiator of methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization. The overall polymerization rate can be expressed as Rp = k[MMA]1.4[Na2SO3]0.5[PVAm-Cu(II)]0. The activity of initiator system varies with the composition of PVAm-Cu(II) complex. The polymerization proceeds by a free radical way, and primary radicals are formed by the process of “complexation-hydrogen transfer” between PVAm-Cu(II)/Na2SO3/MMA system. The copolymerization of MMA and styrene (St) with PVAm-Cu(II)/Na2SO3 system as initiator differs from the conventional radical copolymerization.