Radical copolymerization of fumaric acid with styrene in DMF solution

Abstract

The radical copolymerization of fumaric acid (FA) with styrene (St) was carried out in DMF solution at 70°C. The UV spectroscopy excludes the presence of a charge-transfer complex between FA and St in the copolymerization system. The copolymerization of FA with St was described by using the terminal and penultimate models. The Joshi–Joshi, Fineman–Ross, Kelen–Tüdo ̋ s and Ezrielev–Brokhina–Roskin methods were used to determine the reactivity ratios in terminal model. The reactivity ratios in penultimate model were found by iterative procedure without constraint and with constraint r 1≥ r′ 1 and r 2≥ r′ 2. Both the classic model as well as the penultimate model were a relatively adequate description of the copolymerization mechanism. From the calculated reactivity ratios, Q and e values were calculated, as well as the sequence distribution in copolymers. The copolymers were analysed by FTIR, 1H NMR and TG methods.