COPOLYMERS OF N-VINYLCARBAZOLE AND ETHYL IODIDE QUARTERNIZED DIMETHYLAMINOETHYL METHACRYLATE

Copolymers of N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) and the quarternary salt of N,N-d imethylaminoethyl methacrylate with ethyl iodide (DMAEMA.EI) were prep ared by free-radical copolymerization in dimethyl sulfoxide at 70 degr ees C using alpha,alpha'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator . The reactivity ratios of both monomers were determined according to the general copolymerization equation using the extended Kelen-Tudos m ethod and found to be r(1) = 0.12 (+/-0.04) and r(2) = 0.84 (+/-0.08). Copolymers were characterized by viscosity measurements and thermogra vimetric analysis (TGA). Copolymers containing DMAEMA.EI higher than 6 0 mol % were water-soluble. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.