Sains Malaysiana, 2013;42:509-514.

Abstract

Copolymers from different feed compositions of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate (THFA) were synthesized using free radical polymerization in toluene solution at 70±1°C using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The polymers were characterized by 1 H NMR,13C NMR and DEPT spectroscopic techniques. The copolymer compositions were determined using 1H NMR analysis. Reactivity ratios for GMA and THFA were determined by the Kelen-Tudos, TidwellMortimer and error-in-variables model methods. The results showed that all these copolymerizations were strictly linear systems describable by the Mayo-Lewis equation based on the terminal model and that accurate reactivity ratio data can be obtained.