Determination of Reactivity Ratios for Acrylonitrile/Methyl Acrylate Radical Copolymerization Via Nonlinear Methodologies Using Real Time FTIR

Reactivity ratios for the homogeneous free radical initiated copolymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate were measured by NMR on isolated, low conversion copolymers and by real time in situ FTIR. The system utilized azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator in dimethyl formamide (DMF) at 62°. The FTIR technique allowed rapid generation of extensive copolymer compositions, which permitted application of nonlinear least squares methodology for the first time to this copolymer system. Thus, reactivity ratios at the 95% confidence level were determined to be 1.29 ± 0.2 and 0.96 ± 0.2 for acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate, respectively. The results are useful for the development of acrylonitrile (<90%) melt processable copolymer fibers and films, which could include precursors for carbon fibers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Department dc:contributor.department

Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Wiles, Kenton Broyhill

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• McGrath, James E.
• Riffle, Judy S.

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Shultz, Allan R.

• In-situ FTIR
• Nonlinear Analysis
• Reactivity Ratios
• Methyl Acrylate
• Acrylonitrile

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-09022002-112751

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/34888