Synthesis and characterization of emulsion copolymer of N‐cyclohexylmaleimide and methyl methacrylate

Copolymers of N‐cyclohexylmaleimide (ChMI) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were synthesized by the emulsion semibatch copolymerization method. The effects of the monomer mixture composition on the average molecular weight (Mn and Mw), glass transition temperature (Tg), degradation temperature, mechanical properties, and rheological behavior of the copolymers were investigated. The results show that Mn and Mw have maximum values when the ChMI feed content was about 20% (by wt). The degradation temperature and Tg of the copolymers increase with increasing ChMI moieties in the copolymer. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and impact strength) decrease with an increasing ChMI feed content. All copolymers in the melt show pseudoplastic behavior. The flow index n increases with an increasing ChMI feed content.