Synthesis and characterization of (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymers and determination of monomer reactivity ratios

Copolymers of (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate (PDMMA) with styrene were prepared by free radical-initiated solution polymerization in 1,4-dioxane. IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR techniques were used in the polymer characterization. The copolymer compositions were determined by elemental analysis. Gel permeation chromatography was used for determining the Mn, MW, and disparity indices. Glass transition temperatures and thermal properties were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Reactivity ratios were calculated as rPDMMA = 0.183 ± 0.001, rSt = 0.34 ± 0.002 from the Kelen-Tüdös equation, and rPDMMA = 0.201 ± 0.042,rSt = 0.441 ± 0.220 from the Fineman-Ross equation.