Cationic surfactant blocks radical-inhibiting sites on silica

Surfactant-catalyzed room-temperature radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was conducted in the presence of fumed silica nanoparticles and water. Three types of surfactants, cationic (CTAB), nonionic (Triton X-100) or anionic (SDS), were used to catalyze the decomposition of the initiator, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The surfactant-catalyzed decomposition rate constant for AIBN at room temperature was found to be...