COPOLYMERIZATION OF 4-METHYLPHENYL AND 4-METHOXYPHENYL ACRYLATES WITHGLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE - SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, REACTIVITY RATIOS, AND APPLICATION AS ADHESIVES FOR THE LEATHER-INDUSTRY

Copolymers of 4-methyl- and ri-methoxyphenyl acrylates with glycidyl m ethacrylate having different copolymer compositions were synthesized i n 1,4-dioxan using benzoyl peroxide as a radical initiator at 70 +/- 0 .5 degrees C. The composition of the monomers in the copolymers were c alculated using H-1-NMR spectroscopy by comparing the integral values of well-separated aromatic and alifatic proton peaks. The reactivity r atios were calculated by Fineman-Ross, Kelen-Tudos, and extended Kelen -Tudos methods. The copolymers were characterized by H-1-NMR and proto n decoupled C-13-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Gel per meation chromat ography was used for determining the <(M)over bar (w)> and <(M)over ba r (n)> and polydispersity indexes of the copolymers. Thermal stability of the homo- and copolymers was calculated using thermogravimetric an alysis, while differential scanning calorimetry was utilized in determ ining the glass transition temperature. Copolymers of suitable composi tion were chosen for curing reactions with diethanolamine in chlorofor m. The cured resins were tested as adhesives for leather-leather bondi ng at different temperatures (50, 90, 100, and 110 degrees C). It was found that copoly(MOPA-GMA) at 50 degrees C gave the best adhesive pro perty over all other samples tested. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.