Reactivity ratios of free monomers and their charge‐transfer complex in the copolymerization of N‐butyl maleimide and styrene

As for the charge‐transfer complex (CTC) formed by N‐butyl maleimide (NMBI) and styrene in chloroform, the complex formation constant was determined by ¹H‐NMR of Hanna–Ashbaugh. The copolymerization of NBMI (NBMI, M₁) and styrene (St, M₂) in chloroform using AIBN as an initiator was investigated. On the basis of the kinetic model proposed by Shan, the reactivity ratios of free monomers and CTC in the copolymerization were calculated to be r₁₂ = 0.0440, r₂₁ = 0.0349, r_1C = 0.00688, r_2C = 0.00476, and the ratios of rate constants were obtained to be k_1C/k₁₂ = 6.40, k_2C/k₂₁ = 7.33. In addition, the copolymer was characterized by IR, ¹H‐NMR, DSC, and TGA. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 3007–3012, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.2330