Synthesis and characterization of poly(itaconic acid-co-glycidyl methacrylate)copolymers

In this study, the synthesis and characterization of copolymers of hydrophilic itaconic acid (IA) with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), which is both adhesive and capable of crosslinking were carried out. Poly (IA-co-GMA) copolymers were synthesized under nitrogen atmosphere at 70 °C in solution phase using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator and 1,4-dioxane as solvent using different monomer mole ratios. The polymers were precipitated with diethyl ether, purified by solution-reprecipitation and dried under vacuum at 40°C . The structures of the synthesized copolymers were clarified by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis methods. The viscosimetric behavior of the copolymers at 25+0.1°C was followed and the effect of the copolymer composition on viscosity was determined. Thermal behaviors of copolymers were determined by TGA method. The composition of poly (IA-co-GMA) copolymers was determined by elemental analysis method. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated by using the well-known Kelen-Tüdös and Finemann-Ross equations with the results obtained. The monomer reactivity ratios for both monomers were found to be greater than 1, indicating that the synthesized copolymers are in the block-copolymer structure.