A Kinetic Investigation on High Conversion Copolymerization of Lauryl Methacrylate Isobutyl Methacr

Copolymers of isobutylmethacrylate (i-BMA), and laurylmethacrylate (LMA), were prepared by solution free radical copolymerizations at 70°C using 2,2’-azobisisobutyronitrile,as initiator. The synthesis of these copolymers were investigated over a wide composition and conversion range. Copolymer compositions were determined as a function of conversion from the %C, %H, and %O contents of copolymer by elemental analysis. In order to avoid the complications of copolymerization kinetics, the “pseduokinetic rate constant method” (PKRC) was applied to constant and variable volume polymerization system. Theoretical values of coupled parameter kp / k0.5 t calculated from the “implicit penultimate unit effect” model (IPUE) based on instantaneous monomer feed composition, were determined from Meyer-Lowery integrated copolymer composition equation. The results have been compared with experimentally determined kinetic parameters.