THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF COPOLYMERS BASED ON 2-SUBSTITUTED OXAZOLINES AND BETA-METHYLHYDROGENITACONATE

The thermal stabilities of a-methylhydrogenitaconate-co-2-methyl-2-oxa zoline) and ta-methylhydrogenitaconate-co-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) obtaine d by spontaneous copolymerization have been studied by programmed ther mogravimetric analysis over the temperature range from 293 K to 773 K under a flow of nitrogen. Most of the copolymers do not show weight lo ss until 473 K and they degrade in one step. The kinetic parameters Ea , n and A were obtained following one method of thermogravimetric anal ysis. The reaction order for all copolymers was 1.0. The -methylhydrog enitaconate-co-2-methyl-2-oxazoline)s were the most thermostable copol ymers.