Copolymerisation and thermal behaviour of styrene: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">n</i>-decyl/dodecyl itaconate copolymer-Part II

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">n</i>-decyl itaconate (DDI) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">n</i>- dodecyl itaconate (DDI) monomers and their homopolymerisation and copolymerisation with styrene in bulk using azobisisobutyronitrile (AlBN) as an initiator have been reported. The copolymer compositions have been determined from ¹H-NMR. The reactivity ratios determined using Fineman-Ross and Kelen Tudos method have been found to be r₁ = 1.2 (styrene), r₂ = 0.70 (DI) and r₁ = 1.1 (styrene), r₂ = 0.9 (DDI). All the samples have high moleculer weight. <i>M_n </i>in the range of 13 <img src='/image/spc_char/cross.gif' border=0> 10³- 43 <img src='/image/spc_char/cross.gif' border=0> 10³ and <i>M_n </i>in the range of 25 <img src='/image/spc_char/cross.gif' border=0> 10³ – 88 <img src='/image/spc_char/cross.gif' border=0> 10³ with a polydispersity index in the range 1.71-2 .15. Intrinsic viscosity (η) of the copolymers decreases with increase in amount of itaconate in the copolymers. Inspite of having very high molecular weight, the homopolymers (PDI, PDDI) have a very low value of η (2±0.5 ml/g). Glass transition temperature as determined by DSC is found to be dependent on the copolymer composition. Thermal stability of the copolymers has been determined by recording <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">TG/DTG<i> </i>traces in nitrogen atmosphere.

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