Methyl methacrylate was polymerized at a mass concentration of 200 g/dm3 in toluene using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator at a mass concentration of 1.64 x 10-2 g/dm3 and a reaction temperature of 60°C. Calculate the initial rate of polymerization and the number average molar mass of poly(methyl methacrylate) formed in the initial stages of the reaction given that the relevant rate coefficients at 60°C are:

Initiator dissociation, kd = 8.5 x 10-6 s-1

Propagation, kp = 833 dm3 mol-1 s-1

Termination, kt = 9.3 x 106 dm3 mol-1 s-1

Transfer to monomer, ktrM = 3.93 x 10-3 dm3 mol-1 s-1

Transfer to solvent, ktrS = 7.34 x 10-3 dm3 mol-1 s-1

Initiator efficiency, f = 0.7 Termination by combination is negligible Density of initial solution of methyl methacrylate in toluene is 860 g/dm3