SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANIONIC 2,3-EPOXYPROPYL METHACRYLATE POLYMERS AND OF RELATED RANDOM AND BLOCK-COPOLYMERS WITH METHYL-METHACRYLATE

Glycidyl methacrylate polymers and their random or block copolymers wi th methyl methacrylate have been synthesized anionically with a lithiu m organic initiator in tetrahydrofuran solution, at low temperature, w ith lithium chloride added to the reaction medium. In all cases, initi ation and propagation involved exclusively methacrylic unsaturation, w ithout touching the oxirane group of glycidyl methacrylate. The macrom olecular species formed were characterized by titration of the epoxide groups, H-1 n.m.r., i.r. spectroscopy, s.e.c. and light scattering me asurements. The determination of compositions, average molecular weigh t and polydispersity indices of the various samples were in agreement with the values expected.