AZEOTROPY IN TERPOLYMERIZATION REACTIONS OF TRIBUTYLTIN ACRYLATE OR METHACRYLATE WITH ITACONIC ACID OR DIMETHYLITACONATE AND N-VINYL-2-PYRROLIDONE

Ternary copolymerisations of tri-n-butyltin acrylate (TBTA) or tri-n-b utyltin methacrylate (TBTMA) with itaconic acid (IA) or dimethylitacon ate (DMI) and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) were carried out in solution at 70-degrees-C in the presence of a free radical initiator. Experime ntal terpolymerisation data agreed with calculations based on the Alfr ey-Goldfinger equation. Ternary azeotropic compositions for TBTA-IA-NV P and TBTA-DMI-NVP systems were 52.60:14.80:32.60 and 56.60:26.60:16.8 0 mol%, respectively. Also 'pseudo-azeotropic' regions were identified where the deviation between feed and polymer compositions is very sma ll.