Micellar Free Radical Initiators

The effect of the nature of the surfactant, peroxide (ROOH), and medium on the rate of radical initiation in a surfactant-ROOH mixed micellar system has been studied. Cationic surfactants, as distinct from anionic and nonionic ones, have been found to catalyze ROOH decomposition to form radicals. Cationic surfactants in an organic medium exhibit higher catalytic effect than in an aqueous solution. The catalytic activity of the surfactants is strongly dependent on the counterion nature. The highest catalytic activity is shown by cetyltrimethylammonium chloride.