Free radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene with N-(4-carboxyphenyl)maleimide

The free radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene (St) with N-(4-carboxyphenyl)maleimide (CPMI) was carried with AIBN as an initiator in THF solvent at 80°C. A series of copolymers of MMA and St with CPMI were prepared using different feed ratios of comonomers. The values of monomer reactivity ratios (r1, r2) determined by Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tudos methods are 0.26 and 2.51 in the CPMI/MMA system and 0.08 and 0.22 in the CPMI/St system. Alfrey-Price Q-e values for CPMI were calculated as Q = 1.05 and e = 0.41 in the CPMI/MMA system and Q = 1.21 and e = 0.91 in the CPMI/St system. The polymer samples have been characterized by solubility tests, intrinsic viscosity measurements, FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectral analysis, and thermo-gravimetric analysis. It was found that the initial and final decomposition temperatures increased with increasing the amount of CPMI in the copolymer. The integral procedural decomposition temperature and energy of activation of thermal degradation have also been reported.