Aromatic-aliphatic acrylic monomers and polymers: Synthesis and characterization

Two new ester-type monomers were synthesized by the condensation of acrylic acid with the products of the hydroxyethylation of 4-nonylphenol or 4-tertbutylphenol. The hydroxyethylation reaction was performed with 1,3-dioxolan-2-ona in the presence of alkalies. By hydroxyethylation, the phenols were changed into alcoholic derivatives able to react with acrylic acid to give acrylic esters. The insertion of the aryl-alkyl groups into the structure of the acrylic esters, and implicitly of the corresponding polymers, was carried out with the intention of increasing their thermostability and improving their behavior as pressure-sensitive adhesives on the whole. The monomers and the polymers were characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, IR and H-1-NMR spectroscopy, and other special methods. The results of these investigations confirmed the formulated suppositions. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polymers were in the range of 47-64 mL/g, and their thermal stability was up to 315-320 degreesC, far higher than that of the polyacrylates used. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc, J Appl Polym Sci 83: 802-814. 2002.