Radical polymerization of N-(4-butoxycarbonylphenyl)maleimide, its co-polymerization with methyl methacrylate, styrene and acrylonitrile, and the properties of the resulting polymers

Abstract

Co-polymers were synthesized from free radical co-polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (ST) and acrylonitrile (AN) with N-(4-butoxycarbonylphenyl)maleimide (BCPM), using benzyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator and DMF as a solvent at 85°C. A series of co-polymers of MMA, ST and AN with BCPM was prepared using different feed ratio of comonomers. The thermo-stabilities and physical properties of the polymer samples obtained have been described. The values of monomer reactivity ratios r 1 and r 2 determined by Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tudos methods are 0.28 and 0.90 in BCPM/MMA, 0.20 and 0.39 in BCPM/ST and 0.51 and 1.23 in BCPM/AN systems. Alfrey–Price Q and e values for BCPM are Q = 1.39 and e = 1.57 in BCPM/MMA, Q = 2.53 and e = 2.15 in BCPM/ST and Q = 1.11 and e = 1.89 in BCPM/AN systems.