Linear copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and 2-hydroxyethylacrylate: Synthesis, characterization and monomer reactivity ratios

Abstract

Ñopolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA) carried out by solvent ethanol solution method, at 60°C, using Azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The hydrophilic copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, DSC, TGA and turbidimetric method. The results showed thermal stability increase with increase of NIPAAm in the copolymers. It was found that copolymer solutions have lower critical solution temperature (by turbidimetric analysis). The reactivity ratios of monomers were determined using linear methods like Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tudos. The reactivity ratios of r1 and r2 were found to be 0,86, 0,72 and 1,02, 1,04 respectively.