Relationship between electrical and mechanical loss tangents of hollow glass powder reinforced epoxy composites: A pilot study

This study was focused on the synthesis of monodisperse poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate) submicrospheres via soap‐free emulsion polymerization and on their characterization. The glass‐transition temperatures of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate) were approximately 25 and 110°C, respectively. Therefore, submicrospheres with different glass‐transition temperatures could be obtained through the variation of the copolymer composition. In addition, relationships between the monomer feed concentration (M₀) and the Mark–Houwink constant (α) for the copolymer submicrospheres were proposed. The molecular weights of the copolymer submicrospheres decreased sharply with an increase in the weight fraction of n‐butyl methacrylate. On the contrary, the particle diameter increased linearly from 277 to 335 nm with an increase in the weight fraction of n‐butyl methacrylate. The α values decreased with an increase in M₀, and this indicated that the branched structures of the copolymer submicrospheres were easily obtained when M₀ was higher than 0.11 g/mL of water. Consequently, the results of this study are expected to provide useful information for the synthesis of monodisperse copolymer submicrospheres by soap‐free emulsion polymerization. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Dynamic‐mechanical behavior of hydrophobic–hydrophilic interpenetrating copolymer networks

Sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by free‐radical polymerization. One of the components of the IPN was a poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) network, and the other one was a poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer network. Dynamic‐mechanical experiments show that the IPNs are phase separated: two main α relaxations occur in all samples, the low temperature one corresponding to the PBA network and that appearing at higher temperature due to the copolymer network. The latter shows a shape analogous to a pure poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) network independently of the copolymer composition. The influence of water absorption on the dynamic‐mechanical spectrum shows that only a small amount of water reaches the butyl acrylate segments. The dependence of the mechanical behavior of the poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) copolymer networks with the copolymer composition has been also analyzed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:930–937, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Viscosity index. I. Evaluation of selected copolymers incorporating n-octadecyl acrylate as viscosity index improvers

Compositionally and structurally varied copolymers all containing n-octadecyl acrylate were prepared and evaluated as viscosity index improvers in a common base oil under conditions of low shear. Systems evaluated over a range of copolymer and blend composition were: copolymers of n-octadecyl acrylate with, respectively, methyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and n-dodecyl acrylate; and homopolymers of poly(n-octadecyl acrylate), prepared with a wide range of molecular weights. Properties were compared with those of blends of commercial methacrylate copolymers (acryloids) which had been freed of their entraining liquid. Mixtures of base oil with copolymers of n-octadecyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate, compared at fixed SAE viscosities, were the most efficient of all blends studied. They had the smallest rate of change of viscosity with temperature (as measured by their ASTM slopes), particularly in the composition region of incipient polymer precipitation at room temperature. Efficiency of certain of these composition was somewhat greater than that of the acryloids. A parameter that related concentration and weight-average molecular weight was used to correlate all of the data for ASTM slope and viscosity. Empirical relations developed by using this parameter enabled rheological data to be estimated that agree within 6% of experimental values for the case of thermodynamically good base oil solvents. These data demonstrated the relatively small contributions of copolymer structure to viscosity index improvement.     

Miscibility behavior of blends of poly(alkyl methacrylate)s with poly(p-methylstyrene-co-methacrylonitrile)

The miscibility behavior of various poly(p-methylstyrene-co-methacrylonitrile) (pMSMAN)/poly(alkyl methacrylate)s blends was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. pMSMAN is miscible with poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(n-propyl methacrylate), poly(isopropyl methacrylate), and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) over certain copolymer composition ranges, but is immiscible with poly(isobutyl methacrylate) and poly(n-amyl methacrylate). The width of the miscibility window decreases with increasing size of the pendant ester group of the poly(alkyl methacrylate), and is wider than that of the corresponding poly(p-methylstyrene-co-acrylonitrile) blend system. Various segmental interaction parameters are calculated using a binary interaction model. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improved accuracy and precision in the light-scattering characterization of homo- and copolymers in THF

A one-point method was developed for the estimation of weight-averaged molecular weights from light-scattering data. The method is based on the calculation of the second virial coefficient from theoretical predictions of the dependence of A₂ on the molecular weight. The second virial coefficient is then regressed for a particular polymer—solvent combination from a series of preexisting measurements over a range of molecular weights. The one-point method is found to yield as accurate molecular weight estimates as obtained from a Debye plot using the conventional dilution technique. The variance in the estimation of the Rayleigh factor has also been found to be highly dependent on the measurement concentration. Therefore, the precision in the estimation of molecular weight can be improved by calculating molecular weights at or near the optimal concentration, which is itself molecular weight-dependent. The one-point method is demonstrated for poly(methyl methacrylate)s of various polydispersities in tetrahydrofuran. The molecular weight of polystyrene and polystyrene-co-acrylic acid were also estimated by the one-point method in THF. In the case of the polystyrene-co-acrylic acid, THF becomes a poorer solvent with increasing levels of acrylic acid in the copolymer, and the parameter (A₂M^0.5) is found to vary with the copolymer composition, as is theoretically predicted. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1303–1316, 1997     

Effects of the cosurfactant 1‐butanol and feed composition on nanoparticle properties produced by microemulsion copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate

The concentration of the cosurfactant 1‐butanol (BuOH) determined the polymer weight and size for a series of poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate)s (P(St‐co‐MMA)) synthesized by the free‐radical (o/w) microemulsion technique. A factorial design established the levels of the experimental conditions for the polymerization i.e., concentration of the surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); concentration of the cosurfactant, BuOH; temperature and ratio of the styrene (St) to methyl methacrylate (MMA). An increase in the weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) and number‐average molecular weight (M_n) was observed in the P(St‐co‐MMA) series with an increase in BuOH concentration from 1 to 5 wt %. These effects could arise from the micellar aggregation induced by interfacial BuOH. The unique micellar conditions could be exploited to synthesize copolymers of varying molecular weight and size. Additionally, the composition of the copolymers was virtually templates of the feed composition. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide using a silicone‐containing fluoroacrylate stabilizer

Free radical dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) using poly{(heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate)‐co‐3‐[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate} (p(HDFDA‐co‐SiMA)) as stabilizer. Dry, fine powdered spherical poly(methyl methacrylate) (pMMA) particles with well‐defined sizes were produced. The resulting high yield of spherical and relatively uniform micron‐size pMMA particles was formed utilizing various amounts of p(HDFDA‐co‐SiMA) random copolymer. The particle diameter was shown to be dependent on the weight percent of the stabilizer added to the system. The effects of varying the concentration of stabilizer (1–7 wt%), reaction time (4–12 h) and pressure (15–35 MPa) upon the polymerization yield, molar mass and morphology of pMMA were investigated. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermal analysis and NMR studies of methyl methacrylate (MMA)–methacrylic acid copolymers synthesized by an unusual polymerization of MMA

Methyl methacrylate–methacrylic acid (MMA–MAA) copolymers were prepared from the polymerization reaction of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer with concentrated nitric acid (65% HNO₃) at different reaction times in the absence of other reagents in the reaction mixture. The hydrolysis degrees of the MMA–MAA (sodium salts) copolymers estimated by thermogravimetry (TG) corroborated the data obtained by chemical titration. By calorimetry (DSC), a relationship between the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the hydrolysis degree was obtained. The results presented a deviation from linear behavior and it was related to the strength of the interactions involved in the copolymer chains. The equation that relates the glass transition temperature to the interaction parameter, χ, for miscible binary polymer blends was applied for the MMA–MAA copolymers and demonstrated the composition dependence of χ. The molecular mobility was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in the solid state and through the proton spin‐lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame. The NMR data were in a good agreement with the results obtained by calorimetry. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 495–507, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate)‐graft‐poly[(meth)acrylates] by atom transfer radical polymerization

The graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate onto poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate) with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was successfully carried out with copper(I) thiocyanate/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and copper(I) chloride/2,2′‐bipyridine as catalysts in the solvent N,N‐dimethylformamide. For methyl methacrylate, a kinetic plot of ln([M]₀/[M]) (where [M]₀ is the initial monomer concentration and [M] is the monomer concentration) versus time for the graft polymerization was almost linear, and the molecular weight of the graft copolymer increased with increasing conversion, this being typical for ATRP. The formation of the graft polymer was confirmed with gel permeation chromatography, ¹H‐NMR, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The glass‐transition temperature of the copolymer increased with the concentration of methyl methacrylate. The graft copolymer was hydrolyzed, and its swelling capacity was measured. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 183–189, 2005     

Morphologies of polybutylacrylate/poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate) latex prepared by starved emulsion polymerization Part I. Thermodynamics equilibrium morphology

Heterogeneous latexes were prepared by a semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization process under monomer starved conditions at 80 °C using potassium persulfate as the initiator and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the emulsifier. Poly(butyl acrylate) latexes were used as seeds. The second‐stage polymer was poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate). By varying the amounts of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the second‐stage copolymer, the polarity of the copolymer phase could be controlled. Phase separation towards the thermodynamic equilibrium morphology was accelerated either by ageing the composite latex at 80 °C or by adding a chain‐transfer agent during polymerization. The morphologies of the latex particles were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphology distributions of latex particles were described by a statistical method. It was found that the latex particles displayed different equilibrium morphologies depending on the composition of the second‐stage copolymers. This series of equilibrium morphologies of [poly(butyl acrylate)/poly(styrene‐co‐methyl methacrylate)] (PBA/P(St‐co‐MMA)) system provides experimental verification for quantitative simulation. Under limiting conditions, the equilibrium morphologies of PBA/P(St‐co‐MMA) were predicted according to the minimum surface free energy change principle. The particle morphology observed by TEM was in good agreement with the predictions of the thermodynamic model. Therefore, the morphology theory for homopolymer/homopolymer composite systems was extended to homopolymer/copolymer systems. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of binary copolymers of methyl methacrylate with glycidyl methacrylate and 2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate as carriers for cellulase

Cellulase was immobilized directly on methyl methacrylate‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (MMA‐co‐GMA) and methyl methacrylate‐2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate copolymer (MMA‐co‐HEMA) by covalent attachment and crosslinking methods. The properties of the immobilized cellulase were investigated and compared with those of the free one. For the assays carried out through crosslinking method at 25°C and pH 7, the retained activities were found to be 91.92% and 74.63%, respectively, for MMA‐co‐GMA and MMA‐co‐HEMA crosslinked with 0.1% of 1‐cyclohexyl‐3‐(2‐morpholino‐ethyl) carbodiimide metho‐p‐toluenesulfonate (CMCT), respectively. The immobilized cellulase had better stability and higher retained activities with respect to pH, temperature, and storage stability than the free one. In the repeated use experiments, the immobilized cellulase using (MMA‐co‐GMA)‐CMCT (0.1%) and (MMA‐co‐HEMA)‐CMCT (0.1%) did not change after 10 and eight times of repeated use and maintained 67% and 62% from their original activities after 25 times, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of hydrophilic copolymers of maleimide derivatives with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate: electrochemical and thermal behavior

BACKGROUND: The high‐technology industries have been the driving force in the development of new synthetic polymers that combine thermal stability with specific functional properties. In this study p‐chlorophenylmaleimide, p‐hydroxyphenylmaleimide and p‐nitrophenylmaleimide (R‐PhMI) with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were synthesized by free radical polymerization to obtain hydrophilic polymers, in order to study the effect of the p‐chloroaryl, p‐hydroxyaryl or p‐nitroaryl group on the copolymer composition, electrochemical behavior and thermal properties. RESULTS: The thermal behavior was correlated with the copolymer composition and functional groups, maleimide derivatives, on the copolymers. Thermal decomposition temperature (TDT) and glass transition temperature (T_g) were influenced by the functional groups of R‐PhMI moiety on the copolymer. The polymers showed an electrochemically irreversible reduction process under the conditions tested. CONCLUSION: Poly[(p‐chloromaleimide)‐co‐(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] copolymer shows a higher TDT than poly[(p‐hydroxymaleimide)‐co‐(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] or poly[(p‐nitromaleimide)‐co‐(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] (NPHE). T_g decreases in going from nitro to hydroxyl to chloro groups. The NPHE copolymer shows a lower stability, losing weight at 200 °C. The NPHE copolymer shows a well‐defined reduction wave which is similar to those of the other copolymers and it also shows an additional quasi‐reversible reduction wave corresponding to the nitrobenzene group. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of conducting copolymer of Trans‐1‐(4‐methyl‐3′‐thienyl)‐2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene with EDOT

Ferrocene‐substituted conducting polymer namely poly(trans‐1‐(4‐methyl‐3′‐thienyl)‐2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene‐co‐3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) [P(MTFE‐co‐EDOT)] was synthesized and its electrochromic properties were studied. Monomer, MTFE, was obtained using 2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene and 3‐methyl‐4‐bromothiophene. The structure of monomer was determined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR techniques. The copolymer was synthesized using this monomer and EDOT. The resulting copolymer P(MTFE‐co‐EDOT) was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The conductivity measurements of copolymer and PEDOT were accomplished by the four‐probe technique. Although poly(trans‐1‐(4‐methyl‐3′‐thienyl)‐2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene) [P(MTFE)] reveals no electrochromic activity, its copolymer with EDOT has two different colors (violet and gray). Band gap (E_g) and λ_max of P(MTFE‐co‐EDOT) were determined. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Effect of surface functionalization on the physicomechanical properties of a novel biofunctional copolymer

The physicomechanical properties of functionally active poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate) [poly(HEMA‐co‐MMA)] are evaluated. It has been reported that the surface phosphorylated poly(HEMA‐co‐MMA) is capable of eliciting direct bone bonding when implanted in vivo. Hence, it is important to examine the physicomechanical property of the copolymer as a function of surface modification. The properties assessed are differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), equilibrium swelling, compressive strength, and dynamic mechanical analysis. According to the DSC data, the glass transition temperature, T_g of poly(HEMA‐co‐MMA) is not significantly altered by surface phosphorylation. The TGA results demonstrated that unmodified and surface phosphorylated copolymers have similar degradation profile. The differential thermal analysis further supports the data. The equilibrium swelling of functionalized poly(HEMA‐co‐MMA) in phosphate buffer saline ascertained that surface phosphorylation significantly increased the hydrophilicity of the copolymer. The study further illustrated that the percentage of equilibrium swelling appreciably increases with increase in HEMA content in the copolymer and reached a plateau after 100 h. Both compressive strength and compressive modulus of poly (HEMA‐co‐MMA) decreased due to surface phosphorylation while dynamic storage modulus value was not altered. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis of imide‐based methacrylic monomers and their copolymerization with methyl methacrylate: monomer reactivity ratios and heat resistance properties

The newly designed methacrylic monomer series 4‐phthalimidocyclohexyl methacrylate (PCMA ), 4‐hexahydrophthalimidocyclohexyl methacrylate (HPCMA) and 4‐hexahydro‐3,6‐methanophthalimidocyclohexyl methacrylate (HMPCMA) were synthesized. Their homopolymers and methyl methacrylate (MMA) based copolymer series were polymerized by free‐radical polymerization. The copolymer compositions were characterized using ¹H NMR spectra. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated employing the Fineman?Ross (F‐T) and Kelen?Tüdös (K‐T) methods at low conversion. The values of r₁ and r₂ obtained by the F‐T and K‐T methods appear to be in close agreement (their average values are r₁ = 1.3061 and r₂ = 0.7336 for poly(PCMA‐co‐MMA), r₁ = 1.5169 and r₂ = 0.6840 for poly(HPCMA‐co‐MMA), r₁ = 1.7748 and r₂ = 0.5664 for poly(HMPCMA‐co‐MMA)) . The thermal stabilities and thermomechanical characteristics of the homopolymer and copolymer series were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Melt viscosity characteristics of methacrylate–styrene copolymers

The activation energies of flow E_A of methacrylate–styrene copolymers containing n-butyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-octadecyl, and cyclohexyl methacrylate have been investigated as a function of molecular weight, composition, and methacrylate monomer. Below a critical pendent group molar volume per chain unit (120 ± 10 ml Le Bas units), E_A was found to increase with molar volume; and above this value, a decrease in E_A was observed, reflecting a decrease in copolymer density. Copolymers with pendent group molar volumes per average chain unit of between 96 and 140 ml (Le Bas units) were found to exhibit sufficiently high E_A values to render them suitable for use in thermoplastic and photothermoplastic devices with superior development and erasure rates, at temperatures which enabled the attainment of the development and erasure viscosities with a low expenditure of heat energy. Methacrylate–styrene copolymers with long-chain ester methacrylates (viz., n-decyl and n-dodecyl methacrylate) were found to exhibit critical molecular weights M_c below 3000; and M_c was found to decrease with increasing methacrylate tail length and methacrylate concentration. These M_c values correspond to critical chain lengths Z_c below 45. Similar Z_c values have been previously reported for acrylonitrile–methyl methacrylate copolymers³⁰ and ethylene–propylene copolymers.²⁸     

Miscibility and crystallization kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)/ poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

The miscibility and crystallization kinetics of the blends of random poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) [P(HB‐co‐HV)] copolymer and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). It was found that P(HB‐co‐HV)/PMMA blends were miscible in the melt. Thus the single glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the blends within the whole composition range suggests that P(HB‐co‐HV) and PMMA were totally miscible for the miscible blends. The equilibrium melting point (T°_m) of P(HB‐co‐HV) in the P(HB‐co‐HV)/PMMA blends decreased with increasing PMMA. The T°_m depression supports the miscibility of the blends. With respect to the results of crystallization kinetics, it was found that both the spherulitic growth rate and the overall crystallization rate decreased with the addition of PMMA. The kinetics retardation was attributed to the decrease in P(HB‐co‐HV) molecular mobility and dilution of P(HB‐co‐HV) concentration resulting from the addition of PMMA, which has a higher T_g. According to secondary nucleation theory, the kinetics of spherulitic crystallization of P(HB‐co‐HV) in the blends was analyzed in the studied temperature range. The crystallizations of P(HB‐co‐HV) in P(HB‐co‐HV)/PMMA blends were assigned to n = 4, regime III growth process. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3595–3603, 2004     

One‐pot synthesized poly(vinyl pyrrolidone‐co‐methyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid) blended with poly(ether sulfone) to prepare blood‐compatible membranes

In this study, a random copolymer of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone‐co‐methyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid) was synthesized via a one‐pot reaction with the reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer method and was then blended with poly(ether sulfone) (PES) to prepare flat‐sheet membranes that were expected to have anticoagulant and antifouling properties. The synthesized copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights and molecular weight distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Elemental analysis was used to calculate the molar ratios of vinyl pyrrolidone (VP), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and acrylic acid (AA) in the copolymer. A liquid–liquid phase‐inversion technique was used to prepare the copolymer‐blended PES membranes. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance–FTIR spectroscopy were used to investigate the copolymer on the membrane surfaces. Compared with the pristine PES membrane, the modified PES membranes showed improved hydrophilicity, low hemolysis ratios, decreased protein adsorption, and suppressed platelet adhesion. Furthermore, the thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time indicated that the blood compatibility of the modified PES membranes were improved. The results of the 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the cell morphology suggested that the cytocompatibility increased. In addition, the modified membranes showed good protein antifouling properties. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4284–4298, 2013     

Preparation and characterization of acrylonitrile‐ethyl methacrylate copolymers and the effect of LiClO4 salt on electrical properties of copolymer films

Copolymers of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐ethyl methacrylate), P(AN‐EMA), with three different EMA content and parent homopolymers were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The chemical composition of copolymers were identified by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The thermal properties of copolymers were modified by changing the EMA content in copolymer compositions. Various amounts of LiClO₄ salt loaded (PAN‐co‐PEMA) copolymer films were prepared by solution casting. The dielectric properties of these films at different temperatures and frequencies were investigated. It was found that the dielectric constant and ac‐conductivity of copolymer films were strongly influenced by the salt amounts and EMA content in copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal degradation kinetics of the copolymer poly(4‐methoxybenzyl methacrylate‐co‐isobornyl methacrylate)

A copolymer of 4‐methoxybenzyl methacrylate and isobornyl methacrylate was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The structure of poly(4‐methoxybenzyl methacrylate‐co‐isobornyl methacrylate) was confirmed by means of Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR techniques. The molecular weight distribution values of the copolymer were determined with gel permeation chromatography. The number‐average molecular weight and polydispersity index values of poly(4‐methoxybenzyl methacrylate‐co‐isobornyl methacrylate) were found to be 12,500 and 1.5, respectively. The kinetics of the thermal degradation of the copolymer was investigated with thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates. The activation energy values obtained with the Kissinger, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, and Tang methods were determined to be 166.38, 167.54, and 167.47 kJ/mol, respectively. Different integral and differential methods were used, and the results were compared with these values. Doyle approximation was also used for comparing the experimental results to master plots. An analysis of the experimental results suggested that the reaction mechanism was an R₁ deceleration type in the conversion range studied. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010