POLY-ALPHA-N-ALKYL ACRYLIC DERIVATIVES - SYNTHESIS, INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR-WEIGHT AND N-ALKYL GROUP LENGTH ON PHYSICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

A series of alpha-n-alkyl acrylic acid monomers was synthesized and homopolymerized by a radical route. Methylation of polyacids using diazomethane led to the corresponding methyl esters and allowed physicochemical analysis. The thermal stability of polyacids and polymethyl esters is insensitive to the nature of the alkyl group and to the molecular weight. The glass transition temperature, T-g, classically decreases with increases in alkyl group length such as alkyl polymethacrylates. Molecular weight has a drastic influence on T-g for short alkyl groups.