Abstract
Solution free radical copolymerizations of hydroxyethyl acrylate/methacrylic acid (HEA/MAA) and ethyl acrylate/hydroxyethyl acrylate (EA/HEA) have been conducted in m-xylene (60 wt% solvent level) over the temperature range of 70-130°C using tert-butyl peroxybenzoate as initiator. High resolution magic angle spinning spectroscopy (HR-MAS) and 2D-NMR have been utilized to characterize the copolymer gel for copolymer composition. The reactivity ratio values have been determined from low conversion copolymer composition data using the computer software package RREVM, which is based on the error in variables model (EVM) method. Also, Arrhenius-type reactivity ratio expressions have been developed that describe how reactivity ratios vary with temperature.