PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(DICYCLOHEXYL ITACONATE)-BLOCK-(PROPYLENE OXIDE)

A series of copolymers of dicyclohexyl itaconate (DCHI) and propylene oxide (PPO) were prepared by using peroxycarbamates as radical initiat ors for DCHI. The DCHI content in the copolymers was found to be very similar to that in the feed. The molecular weights of the copolymers p repared showed an inverse relationship with weight per cent of peroxyc arbamates in samples with polydispersities between 1.3 and 2.2. The co polymers were characterized by chemical and physical methods, and thei r thermal stabilities were tested. The results from thermogravimetric analysis revealed two different thermal decomposition temperatures wit h two different activation energies. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.