Abstract
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and copolymers of PAN with monomers like MMA, BA, VA, AM, AA, and S of varying compositions and molecular weights were prepared by emulsion polymerization in a continuous aqueous phase in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate as emulsifier and potassium persulfate/ammonium persulfate as initiator. The molecular weights were determined from the dilute solution viscosity using Mark-Houwink equation. The chemical compositions of copolymers were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy.