OXIDATIVE COPOLYMERIZATION - MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF THE TERPOLYMER OF STYRENE, METHYL-METHACRYLATE, AND OXYGEN

This paper reports the first study of the microstructure of a copolype roxide by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The copolyperoxides of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) of various compositions have been synthesized. An analysis of the resonance signal of the backbone methylene protons gave the diad sequence probabilities which led to t he calculation of the oxidative copolymerization reactivity ratios for styrene and MMA and the microstructural parameters like average chain length of the repeat unit sequences, run number, etc. The results poi nt to the tendency of the SO2 and MO2 units to alternate in the chain. Compared to poly(styrene peroxide), the aromatic Cl seems to be stere osensitive in the terpolymers.