Copolymerization of (2‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4‐yl)methyl methacrylate with alkyl methacrylates: Reactivity ratios and copolymer characterization

The radical copolymerizations of (2‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4‐yl‐)methyl methacrylate (PDMMA) with methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA), and butyl methacrylate (BMA) were studied in dioxane at 60 °C with benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The glass‐transition temperatures of poly(PDMMA‐co‐MMA), poly(PDMMA‐co‐EMA), and poly(PDMMA‐co‐BMA) varied from 130 to 138 °C, from 100 to 134 °C, and from 63 to 122 °C, respectively, depending on the copolymer composition. Along with some physicochemical properties and thermal stability investigations of the copolymers, the monomer reactivity ratios were also determined with the conventional Finemann–Ross and Kelen–Tüdös linearization methods.