Synthesis and properties of poly(butylacrylate-co-butylmethacrylate) dopedwith metal clusters

Butylacrylate/butylmethacrylate (BABMA) colloids were obtained by cocondens ation at 17 K of the monomers with several metals such as Au, Pd, Ag, Cu, C d, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, Sb, Bi, and Zn. The relative stability of the comonomer metal colloids at room temperature was measured. Au-, Pd-, Cd-, and Ge-BABM A colloids are the most stable. The average particle size of these clusters dispersed in the monomers ranges between 19 and 72 Angstrom. On the other hand, the metal clusters in the copolymers range from 32 to 126 Angstrom. T he colloids were polymerized with 2,2'-azoisobutyronitrile and dibenzoyl pe roxide using 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mol % initiator at 65 degrees C to obt ain poly(butylacrylate-co-butylmethacrylate) The doped copolymers yields ar e over 52% w/w in most of the MW fractions The viscosity average molecular weights ((M) over bar 9(v)) range between 370,000 and 970,000 g/mol for the highest MW fraction. The copolymers were characterized by means of thermog ravimetry, Fourier transform IR, elemental analysis, and conductivity measu rements. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.