Aromatic-aliphatic acrylic monomers and polymers: Synthesis and characterization

Two new ester-type monomers were synthesized by the condensation of acrylic acid with the products of the hydroxyethylation of 4-nonylphenol or 4-tert butylphenol. The hydroxyethylation reaction was performed with 1,3-dioxolan -2-ona in the presence of alkalies. By hydroxyethylation, the phenols were changed into alcoholic derivatives able to react with acrylic acid to give acrylic esters. The insertion of the aryl-alkyl groups into the structure o f the acrylic esters, and implicitly of the corresponding polymers, was car ried out with the intention of increasing their thermostability and improvi ng their behavior as pressure-sensitive adhesives on the whole. The monomer s and the polymers were characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric an alyses, IR and H-1-NMR spectroscopy, and other special methods. The results of these investigations confirmed the formulated suppositions. The inheren t viscosities of the resulting polymers were in the range of 47-64 mL/g, an d their thermal stability was up to 315-320 degreesC, far higher than that of the polyacrylates used. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc, J Appl Polym Sc i 83: 802-814. 2002.