Observations on styrene-hydroxyethyl acrylate and styrene-hydroxyethyl acrylate-ethyl acrylate polymerizations

Several experimental observations are reported on the free radical polymeri zation of hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) in its co- and ter-polymerization wit h styrene (Sty) and ethyl acrylate (EA) initiated by 2,2'-azobisisobutyroni trile (AIBN) in bulk. Reactivity ratios were estimated for the system Sty/H EA using the error in variables model (EVM). Kinetic studies over the full conversion range investigated the effects of feed composition, initiator co ncentration and temperature. Limited observations are reported for the Sty/ HEA/EA terpolymerization on the effect of varying HEA levels.