Spectral and thermal investigation of designed terpolymers bearing p-acetylpyridine oxime moieties having excellent antimicrobial properties

A new monomer, (E)-4-acetylpyridine oxime (APO), was prepared by reaction of 4-acetylpyridine and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Its terpolymers with 4-hydroxyacetophenone (HA)/4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HB) and formaldehyde (F) were synthesized by using an acid catalyst in 1:1:5 M proportions. The synthesized monomer (APO) and its terpolymers were identified by FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopic data. The apparent number average molecular weight and viscosities were determined by gel permeation chromatography and Ubbelohde viscometer, respectively. Thermal stability of these resins was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The activation energy (E a) values of the thermal decompsition were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) by isoconversional Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method. Empirical kinetic models, as well as generalized master plots, were applied to explain the degradation mechanisms of terpolymers. The terpolymers strongly inhibited the growth of a wide variety of microorganisms, including Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.