Radical copolymerization of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate and sodium acrylate in water-alcohol solutions

Abstract

The effect of the nature of a solvent on the kinetic parameters of the process and the intrinsic viscosities of copolymers formed by the homogeneous free-radical copolymerization of the sodium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and the sodium salt of acrylic acid initiated by potassium persulfate in water, water-methanol mixtures (92: 8, 84: 16, 75: 25, 50: 50), and water-isopropanol (50: 50) mixtures at pH 9 and 60°C is studied. The initial rate of copolymerization increases with increases in the concentrations of the comonomers and initiator, the content of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid in the initial monomer mixture, and the content of water in a water-methanol mixture and in the sequence of solvents water-methanol < water-isopropanol. The intrinsic viscosity and yield of the copolymer grow when the content of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid in the initial monomer mixture and water in water-methanol mixtures are increased and when isopropanol is replaced with methanol. The reactivity ratios of the monomers in water-methanol (50: 50) and water-isopropanol (50: 50) mixtures are determined.