Estimation of monomer reactivity ratios by nonlinear least‐squares procedure with consideration of the weight of experimental data

To obtain the optimum values of the monomer reactivity ratios for the copolymerization systems with largely different reactivities between both monomers, a nonlinear least‐squares procedure which took into account the weights of experimental data, was proposed and discussed. The weights of the data were treated for the errors arisen from the amounts of monomers charged, the densities of monomers, the weights of copolymer formed, and the composition of copolymer. The least‐squares procedure with the consideration of the weights was applicable to both differentiated equation and integrated equation derived by Lewis and Mayo. This procedure was applied to radical copolymerizations of α‐substituted crotonic esters with styrene, and reasonable monomer reactivity ratios were obtained. It was noted that errors from the copolymer composition were more important than those from the other factors and that the use of the integrated equation was recommended even when the copolymers were isolated at low conversions.