Radical polymerization of N-[(1-n-butoxycarbonyl) ethyl] maleimide

Poly(N-[(1-n-butoxycarbonyl)ethyl]maleimide) (PBAM) was synthesized by solu tion polymerization with 2,2 ' -Azobis(isobutylronitrile) (AIBN) as radical initiator. The resulting polymer(PBAM) was characterized by infrared spect roscopy (IR), themogravimetry (TG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) . The initial decomposition temperature of PBAM is 321.6 degreesC; the glas s transition temperature of PBAM was 240.5 degreesC. The effects of solvent , temperature, initiator concentration ([I]), and monomer concentration ([B AM]) on polymerization were also discussed. The overall activation energy ( E-a) of homopolymerization was determined (E-a = 93.5 kJ/mol). It was revea led that the rate of polymerization (R-p) can be expressed as R-p infinity [I](0.58)[BAM]. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.