POLYMERIZATION OF N(p-PHENOXY-PHENYL)ACRYLAMIDE AND COPOLYMERS WITH STYRENE

Abstract

Copolymerization of N(p-phenoxy-phenyl)acrylamide (PhOPhAA) with styrene (St) in butanone at 70°C under different monomer-to-monomer ratios in the feed using AIBN as free-radical initiator is described. The total monomer concentration was 1 mol L⁻¹. The copolymer composition was evaluated by the nitrogen content in copolymers. The reactivity ratios determined by the Kelen-Tüdös method indicates the random arrangement of monomers in the copolymer chain with an azeotropic point at the equimolar ratio of comonomers. Mean sequence length distribution in copolymers was estimated from r₁ (PhOPhAA) = 0.53 and r₂ (St) = 0.48. Activation energy determined by the Arrhenius method is 118 kJ mol⁻¹. Copolymers are thermally stable up to a temperature of 400°C under TGA conditions. T_g's and higher transition temperatures increase by increasing the content of PhOPhAA in copolymers. The same was also found for molecular weights of copolymers.

Keywords:

• N(p-Phenoxy-phenyl)acrylamide
• Poly[N(p-phenoxy-phenyl)acrylamide]
• Poly[N(p-phenoxy-phenyl)acrylamide-co-styrene]
• Mechanism of copolymerization
• Reactivity ratios
• Mean sequence length
• Thermal properties

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Ministry of Science and Technology of Croatia supported this work.