Kinetic analysis of the imidization of poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) with aniline in the melt

Abstract

AbstractOn the basis of the competitive reactions of intermediate poly(styrene‐co‐N‐phenyl maleamic acid) (SNPMA) to produce either poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (SMA) or poly(styrene‐co‐N‐phenyl maleimide) (SNPMI), the imidization kinetics of SMA with aniline in the molten state were investigated by a novel approach. The volatiles emitted during the reaction of SNPMA were monitored online with both thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) integrated technology. The experimental results directly and definitely indicate that the amidization reaction from SMA to SNPMA in the melt was reversible. Moreover, the kinetic parameters of the competitive reactions of SNPMA in the melt to produce either SMA or SNPMI were determined by FTIR analysis and then compared with those parameters in solution that were obtained in our previous study. It was also implied that the forward ring‐opening reaction of SMA in the melt was nearly instantaneous and that the rates of the competitive reactions of SNPMA to produce either SMA or SNPMI were crucial for the total imidization of SMA. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010