COPOLYMERIZATIONS OF TETRAHYDROFURFURYL METHACRYLATE WITH STYRENE ANDPARA-METHYLSTYRENE

Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA) was copolymerized with styrene (S) and with p-methylstyrene (MS) in 2-butanone at 60-degrees. Using the Kelen-Tudos method, the monomer reactivity ratios were found to be r(s) = 0.32 and r(THFMA) = 0.53 for the S/THFMA system, and r(MS) = 0 .33 and r(THFMA) = 0.42 for the MS/THFMA system. The Q and e values fo r THFMA obtained from the two systems are in good agreement. The therm al stabilities of various copolymers were evaluated by thermogravimetr y. In both systems, the stability increases with increasing S or MS co ntent in the copolymer.