Synthesis and properties of functional methacrylic copolymers

Abstract

In the present work, a family of functionalized statistical copolymers was synthesized by radical polymerization, from a varied composition of benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) comonomers using 2,2´-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The characterization, identification and composition analysis of each copolymer was carried out by spectroscopic methods (FTIR and 1H-NMR). Then, different properties were evaluated; molecular size was determined by measurement of intrinsic viscosity [h] in THF at 25 oC and glass transition temperature (Tg) analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. Films were prepared by solvent casting method from selected samples with different composition, and mechanical properties were analyzed by tensile tests. It was observed that the composition of the functionalized copolymers substantially affects their macromolecular and mechanical properties, evidencing greater flexibility when the DMAEMA content in the copolymer increased.