N-1-alkylitaconamic acids-co-styrene copolymers. 1. Synthesis, characterization and monomer reactivity ratios

Copolymers containing N-1-ethylitaconamic acid, N-1-propylitaconamic acid, N-1-butylitaconamic acid, N-1-hexylitaconamic acid, N-1-octylitaconamic aci d and N-1-decylitaconamic acid with styrene of different comonomer composit ions were synthesized and characterized. Copolymer composition was determin ed by elemental analysis following the nitrogen content in the resulting co polymers. Monomer reactivity ratios r(1) and r(2) of the different copolyme rs were estimated using straight line intersection procedures such as Finem an-Ross (F-R) and Kelen-Tudos (K-T) and by a nonlinear one, according to th e reactivity ratios error-in-variables model (RREVM). Good agreement betwee n the different procedures for r(1) and r(2) determination was found. Diffe rences in the reactivity of N-1-alkylitaconamic acids (NAIA) relative to st yrene were found i.e., ethyl and propyl derivative are less reactive with i tself than butyl, hexyl, octyl, and decyl derivatives with itself. Copolyme rs with some tendency toward small block formation are found.