Terpolymerization of Triisopropylsilyl Acrylate, Methyl Methacrylate, and Butyl Acrylate: Reactivity Ratio Estimation

Abstract

AbstractTernary monomer reactivity ratios of triisopropylsilyl acrylate (SiA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and n‐butyl acrylate (BA), as common monomers in self‐polishing coatings (SPCs) binders are obtained using experimental data collected from free radical bulk polymerization at 70 °C. Different terpolymerizations at low and medium‐high conversions are performed at optimized feed compositions. Estimations are made using the error‐in‐variables model (EVM) framework, applying the recast form of the Alfrey–Goldfinger (AG) model and a direct numerical integration (DNI) approach to the collected data. Estimations from individual low and medium‐high conversion data are compared to those found with the combined data (full conversion range data). The highest certainty in point estimates are obtained with analysis of the full conversion range data. Furthermore, the reactivity ratios determined from the combined data fall between those found with analysis of individual low and medium‐high conversion data, another corroboration of reliable data collection. Reactivity ratios determined from analysis of the combined data (rSiA/MMA = 0.4185, rMMA/SiA = 1.3754, rSiA/BA = 0.8739, rBA/SiA = 0.5736, rBA/MMA = 0.3692, rMMA/BA = 1.7919) are used in the recast AG model to predict cumulative terpolymer composition as a function of conversion. The experimental data and model prediction show satisfactory agreement.