Synthesis and characterization of phenacyl methacrylate - acrylonitrile copolymers and determination of monomer reactivity ratios

Copolymers of phenacyl methacrylate (PAMA) with acrylonitrile (AN) were pre pared in 1,4-dioxane solution at 70 degrees C using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronit rile (AIBN) as initiator. The polymers were characterized by H-1 and C-13 N MR spectroscopic techniques. Also, solubility parameters, inherent viscosit ies, average molecular weight and densities of polymers were determined. Th e copolymer compositions were determined by elemental analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated by application of conventional lineariza tion methods due to Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tudos. Thermal properties of the polymers were also studied by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.