SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COPOLYMERS OF ACRYLONITRILE WITH VINYL PROPIONATE OR VINYL BUTYRATE

Copolymers of acrylonitrile (AN) with vinyl propionate (VP) and vinyl butyrate were synthesized by free radical polymerization using AIBN as initiator in dimethylformamide (DMF) at 65-degrees-C. Copolymer compositions were found by elemental analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios were computed by both Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tudos methods. The copolymers were characterized by IR, H-1-NMR, molecular weight determination and thermal analysis. The mean sequence lengths (n) and probabilities (P) of various sequences were evaluated. Increase in AN content was accompanied by increase in molecular weights of the copolymers. The effect of composition of AN-VP copolymer on thermal stability was examined by thermoyravimetry in air; thermal stability increase with increasing AN content.