Tang Hongyan

Effect of the polar molecule on copolymerization of butyl methacrylate/acrylamide

Butyl methacrylate/acrylamide (BMA/AM) copolymers were synthesized via free radical bulk polymerization. Cyclohexanol was added into the BMA/AM copolymerization system. Effects of cyclohexanol on the monomer conversion and the intrinsic viscosity of BMA/AM copolymers were investigated. Results showed with the increase of the content of cyclohexanol, more AM dissolved in the reaction system, the conversions of the monomers were increased, the intrinsic viscosities of BMA/AM copolymers had a peak value. Effects of cyclohexanol on the structure and properties of BMA/AM copolymers were investigated through fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that AM only participated in the copolymerization reaction with BMA. With the increase of the content of cyclohexanol, the proportion of BMA/AM copolymers would be increased. Therefore, the extent of imidization reaction would be improved during the subsequent foaming stage, which could cause more imide rings in the molecular chains of BMA/AM copolymers. As a result, properties of BMA/AM copolymers would be evidently improved. A high-performance polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam materials could be expected.