Binary copolymerizations of furfuryl methacrylate with styrene, p-methylstyrene and acrylonitrile

Abstract

Furfuryl methacrylate (FMA) was copolymerized with styrene (S), p-methylstyrene (MS) and acrylonitrile (AN). Using the Kelen-Tüdös method, the monomer reactivity ratios were found to be r s = 0.34 and r FMA = 0.42 for S/FMA system, r MS = 0.27 and r FMA = 0.30 for MS/FMA system, and r AN = 0.16 and r FMA = 1.60 for AN/FMA system. The copolymerization behaviour of FMA is similar to that of tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate. The thermal stabilities of various copolymers were evaluated by thermogravimetry. Incorporation of S, MS or AN improves the thermal stability.