STATISTICAL-ANALYSIS OF NITROGEN-CONTAINING VINYL COPOLYMERS - RADIATION-INDUCED CO-POLYMERIZATION OF VINYL-ACETATE AND N-VINYL-2-PYRROLIDONE

Radiation‐induced copolymerization of vinyl acetate and N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone was carried out at 5°C using γ‐irradiation of 1450 rads/min. Copolymers prepared at conversions lower than 5% were analyzed by a saponification technique. Various linear and nonlinear statistical analysis techniques were used to determine the reactivity ratios of this system as r1 = 0.348 and r2 = 3.108. These data were examined and analyzed in relation to problems of elemental analysis involving nitrogen‐containing copolymers and to discrepancies in the reactivity ratios obtained by previous investigators. The presence of oxygen and a higher dose rate did not affect the copolymer composition within statistical error. Hydrolyzed copolymers prepared by this method have potential applications as biocompatible materials. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.