KINETIC AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF THE COPOLYMERIZATION OF THE CLEAVABLE BISMALEIMIDE P-MALEIMIDOBENZOIC ANHYDRIDE AND STYRENE

The polymerization of a bismaleimide-styrene system was studied by usi ng a model compound, p-maleimidobenzoic anhydride, that can be split b y simple hydrolysis. Compared to known divinyl systems, a decreased re activity of the pendant double bonds is observed, probably as a result of cyclization and the steric excluded volume effect. The use of a so lvent causes an additional shift of the gel point towards higher conve rsion. Hydrolysis of gelled material affords soluble p-maleimidobenzoi c acid-alt-styrene copolymers. Compared to a linear system, methyl p-m aleimidobenzoate and styrene, the primary chains obtained by hydrolysi s show an increased polydispersity, probably due to retardation of bim olecular termination of the free radicals that are attached to the pol ymer network (gel effect).