Synthesis and characterization of new polymer systems containing 4-silylmethylstyrene units

A series of terpolymers containing silyl pendant groups were prepared by free radical cross-linking copolymerization. Et3Si and HMe2Si were covalently linked with 4-vinylbenzyl and abbreviated as TESiMSt and DMSiMSt, respectively. Et3Si was covalently linked with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The silyl-linked HEMA are abbreviated as TESiEMA. Free radical terpolymerization of the methacrylic acid (MAA) with different molar ratios of organosilyl monomers was carried out at 60-70 degrees C. The compositions of the polymers were determined by FT-IR spectroscopy and H-1-NMR. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymers was determined calorimetrically. The study of DSC curves showed that incorporation of monomers with cyclic units in polymer chains increases the rigidity of terpolymers and the Tg value is subsequently increased.