Copolymerization with depropagation: Experiments and prediction of kinetics and properties of ?-methylstyrene/methyl methacrylate copolymers. I. Solution copolymerization

α-Methylstyrene (α-MSt) and methyl methacrylate were copolymerized at 60°C in toluene by radical polymerization induced by azobisisobutyronitrile. The kinetics were followed by gravimetry and correlated with the molecular weights, microstructure, and glass transition temperature. A model was developed taking into account the equilibrium of the α-MSt homopolymerization that could not be neglected at 60°C and higher temperatures. The model is in good agreement with all the experimental data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 2297–2313, 1997