Free-Radical Copolymerizations of N-Phenyl Maleimide

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Abstract
Free radical-initiated copolymerization of N-phenyl maleimide (NPMI) with styrene (St), vinyl acetate (VAc) and methyl meth-acrylate (MMA) at 35°C in benzene solution initiated by AIBN was studied. The copolymerization of NPMI and St yields a “nearly equimolecular” alternating copolymer, irrespective of monomer feed. Reactivity ratios of NPMI with St, VAc, and MMA were determined by a curve-fitting method which has the advantage of delivering values not involving personal judgement. Q1 and e1 values of NPMI were also calculated. Tentative explanations have been proposed to Interpret the “nearly alternating” copolymerization between NPMI and St. In addition, thermal stabilities of copolymers were studied by using a programmed thermo-gravimetric analysis technique. Copolymers of St, VAc, and MMA show a considerable increase in thermal stability with increasing content of NPMI. The glass transition temperatures of copolymers of NPMI with MMA and St were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. In both series of copolymers the glass transition temperature increases markedly with increasing in NPMI content. In the case of NPMI-St copolymers, the relative thermal stability as well as glass transition temperature also corroborated the nearly alternating behavior observed.