Co-polymerization of 4-biphenyl methacrylate with methyl methacrylate: synthesis, characterization and determination of monomer reactivity ratios

Abstract

Co-polymerization of BPM with methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been carried out in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) by free radical solution polymerization at 70 ± 1°C utilizing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. Poly(BPM-co-MMA) co-polymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights (M w and M n) and polydispersity indices (M w//M n) of the polymers were determined using gel permeation chromatograph. The glass transistion temperatures (T g) of the co-polymer increases with MMA content. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers performed in nitrogen shows that the stability of the co-polymer increases with an increase in BPM content. The solubility of the polymers was tested in various polar and nonpolar solvents. Co-polymer compositions were determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy by comparing the integral peak heights of well separated aromatic and aliphatic protons peaks. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined using Fineman–Ross (r 1 = 1.70 ± 0.054, r2 = 0.065 ± 0.004), Kelen–Tudos (r1 = 1.73 ± 0.035, r2 = 0.077 ± 0.008) and extended Kelen–Tudos methods (r1 = 1.866 ± 0.100, r2 = 0.069 ± 0.008).