KINETICS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COPOLYMERIZATION OF (2-ALLYLPHENOXY)PENTACHLOROCYCLOTRIPHOSPHAZENE WITH STYRENE, METHYL-METHACRYLATE, AND VINYLBENZYL CHLORIDE

The monomer (2-allylphenoxy)pentachlorocyclotriphospazene (Is) was syn thesized on reacting hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene with 2-allylphenol with a phase-transfer catalyst in a dichloromethane/alkaline solution. The copolymerizations of Ia with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vi nylbenzyl chloride were investigated. No improvement in the weight con version of the copolymerization reaction was observed when the duratio n of copolymerization exceeded 30 h and the reaction temperature was c ontrolled between 60 and 80 degrees C. Molecular weights of the copoly mers decreased with increasing molar fraction of Ia in the feed, but t here was no correlation with the content of Ia in the copolymer. React ivity ratios and Alfrey-Price parameters for the copolymers were obtai ned. The copolymers were characterized by using EA, GPC, TGA, and DSC. The incorporation of the phosphazene unit affected the flame-retardin g properties of the copolymer. Tensile measurement showed that the cop olymer of Ia reacted with methyl methacrylate was hard and brittle.