Research in the field of terpolymers. I. Copolymerization of acrylonitrile/methaerylic acid/methyl methacrylate

Abstract

AbstractIt is known that copolymerization reactions permit the extension of the scope of monomer utilizations, and especially, the controlled modification of the physico‐chemical and mechanical properties of polymers. Many types of elastomers, plastics and synthetic fibers are synthetized at present on the basis of such a reaction.In the last years the field of synthetic fibres has acquired an ever wider utilization together with other groups of spinning polymers as, for instance, the polyamides and polyesters, the acrylic and vinylic copolymers where acrylonitrile is the main component, thanks to the properties it imparts on the polymers.The kinetics of the copolymerization of the ternary system acrylonitrile/methacrylic acid/methyl methacrylate is studied. The polymerization was carried out in inert medium and homogeneous phase (solvent: ethylene glycole carbonate) using lauryl peroxide as initiator.The authors investigated the variation of copolymer composition as compared to the initial monomer ratios at different conversions and depending on polymerization conditions.For the calculation of the composition at a high degree of conversion the monomer reactivities were determined at 70°C by using FINEMAN‐ROSS, MAYO‐LEWIS, and JOSHI‐KAPUR, relations. Some discrepancies in the results obtained by each of these methods are discussed.