Comb-branched poly(alkyl itaconates) containing pendant ethylene amine groups

Comb-branched copolymers containing ethylene amine side chains of the general structure -NH(CH₂CH₂NH)_x? H with x=1, 2, 3 and 4, were prepared by the reaction of poly(monoalkyl-codialkyl itaconate)s, using an excess of the appropriate diamine in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbo-diimide. Incorporation of ethylene amine units in the itaconate copolymers resulted in an increase in the glass transition temperature (T_g) and in the complex modulus of the modified copolymers above T_g. Both effects were proportional to the ethylene amine content of the copolymers. Chemical modification also occurred when samples were heated to about 450 K when imide formation was detected.