COPOLYMERIZATION OF N-PHENYL MALEIMIDE AND GAMMA-METHACRYLOXYPROPYL TRIMETHOXYSILANE

Copolymerisation of N-phenyl maleimide (NPM) and gamma-methacryloxypro pyl trimethoxysilane (MTS) in dioxan solution using benzoyl peroxide a s an initiator is described. The rate of copolymerisation depended on the mole fraction of NPM in the initial feed and decreased with an inc rease in NPM content. Copolymers having a mole fraction of NPM varying from 0.29 to 0.55 exhibited similar thermal behaviour in terms of ini tial decomposition temperature or temperature of maximum rate of weigh t loss. However, char yield at 600-degrees-C depended on NPM content, showing a tendency to increase with the increase in NPM content.