Physico-chemical studies on random and block copolymers based on derivatives of itaconic acid

Abstract

The thermal and mechanical properties of homopolymers, random copolymers, mixed ester polymers, block copolymers and ionomers, all based on itaconic acid have been studied. The heat capacity behaviour of random copolymers and mixed ester polymers has been measured and compared with their mechanical spectra. A major relaxation process in the glassy state of some of the polymers has been detected and identified with the independent relaxation of long n-alkyl side chains. A theoretical model has been developed which describes the relaxation and accounts for the heat capacity behaviour in these systems. Thermoplastic block copolymers have been synthesized using dimethylitaconate as the glassy component and butadiene as the rubbery component. The mechanical and thermal properties of the block copolymers have been established and useful materials can be obtained from this system. Finally, a series of ionomers from mono-n-pentyl itaconate and di-n-pentyl itaconate was synthesized and the effect of variation of the ion content on the mechanical behaviour was investigated.