Synthesis and characterization of (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymers and determination of monomer reactivity ratios

Copolymers of (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate (PDMMA) with styrene were prepared by free radical-initiated solution polymerization in 1,4-dioxane. IR, H-1-NMR, and C-13-NMR techniques were used in the polymer characterization. The copolymer compositions were determined by elemental analysis. Gel permeation chromatography was used for determining the (M) ov er bar(n), (M) over bar(w), and disparity indices. Glass transition tempera tures and thermal properties were determined by differential scanning calor imetry and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Reactivity ratios were calculated as r(PDMMA) = 0.183 +/- 0.001. r(St) = 0.34 +/- 0.002 from the Kelen-Tudos equation, and r(PDMMA) = 0.201 +/- 0.042, r(St) = 0.441 +/- 0.2 20 from the Fineman-Ross equation.