POLYMERIZATION AND THERMAL BEHAVIORS OF POLY[DIMETHYL(ACRYLAMIDOPROPYL)AMMONIUM PROPANE SULFONATE] POLY (DMAAPS)

The conversion in the free radical polymerization of zwitterionic sulf obetaine monomer [dimethyl(acrylamidopropyl) ammonium propanesulfonate ] (DMAAPS) was investigated under various conditions, such as, monomer concentration, reaction time and temperature, and various salts. The high conversion of DMAAPS monomer could be achieved under lower temper ature. The conversion of DMAAPS is enhanced in the presence of various salts in aqueous solution, but is not very significant because the re activity of DMAAPS is very rapid even at lower temperature and lower c oncentration of the monomer. The thermal behavior of poly(DMAAPS) was also studied under nitrogen and air atmosphere at various heating rate s. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy, preexponential fa ctor, and reaction order were determined by Ozawa's method. Thermal de gradation of such a polymer occurs in two and three stages in nitrogen and air atmospheres, respectively. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.