Copolymers of bulky fumarate: synthesis and their properties

The free radical copolymerization of di-n-docosyl fumarate with vinyl acetate and n-alkyl (meth)acrylates was carried out in toluene at 70°C using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. ¹H NMR and carbon analysis was used to determine the copolymer compositions. Monomer reactivity ratios for high conversion polymerization were calculated by Fineman-Ross, Kelen-Tüdös and conversion extension Kelen-Tüdös methods. Gel permeation chromatography was used to determine the molecular weights and polydispersity indexes. In order to determine the stability of polymers against thermal degradation, the kinetics and mechanism of the thermal degradation of copolymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The energy of activation of the degradation process was determined by several thermogravimetric analysis models.