A new approach in copolymerization: Monte Carlo method for the reactivity ratios calculation in copolymerization of furfuryl acrylate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Abstract

Copolymers of furfuryl acrylate (A) with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (H) were prepared by free radical copolymerization in DMF solution at 50°C, using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The reactivity ratios of both monomers were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using the Fineman-Röss and Kelen-Tüdos 1inearization methods, as well as the Tidwell-Mortimer non linear least-squares treatment and the Monte Carlo random method. The reactivity ratios obtained were rA = 0.93 and rH = 1.42. Similar results were obtained by both, the Monte Carlo and the non-linear least squares methods. The microstructure of copolymer chains based on the first order Markov statistics is described.

Keywords

• Reactivity ratios
• copolymerization microstructure
• furfuryl acrylate
• 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate