Modification of the Solvent Influence on the Free Radical Polymerization in Ionic Liquids by Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

Abstract Microwave irradiation is supposed to disturb the polar interactions between the ionic liquid and the monomer molecules or the polymer radicals which probably leads to a decrease in k p compared to conventional heating. This work deals with the comparison of the influence of microwave heating and conventional heating on polymerizations in the ionic liquids [EMIM]EtSO 4 and [BMIM]BF 4 . Different monomers were homo‐ and copolymerized at 60 and 80 °C in DMF or methanol and [EMIM]EtSO 4 or [BMIM]BF 4 as solvent. Lower conversions were observed under microwave irradiation when polymerizing in the ionic liquid (IL), but not when polymerizing in DMF or methanol. Nevertheless there were no systematical differences in the molecular weights and in the copolymer compositions between microwave heating and conventional heating.