Dependence of chemical composition of styrene/butyl acrylate copolymers ontemperature and molecular weight

The temperature dependence of the reactivity ratios of the system styrene/b utyl acrylate is studied. Copolymers of styrene and butyl acrylate are ther efore synthesised in bulk at 50, 90, 100 and 120 degrees C. Copolymer compo sition is determined by H-1 NMR, the resulting data are evaluated, and Arrh enius parameters are obtained for r(BA) In order to investigate the molecul ar-weight dependence of the copolymer composition, copolymerisations of sty rene and butyl acrylate are carried out at 50 and 90 degrees C in the prese nce of mercapto ethanol. No molecular-weight dependence is found for the in vestigated system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.