Copolymerization of 2-Vinylnaphthalene with Benzyudenemalononitrile

Abstract Free radical-initiated copolymerization of 2-vinylnaphthalene (2-VNA) with benzylidenemalononitrile (BzMN) was performed in toluene to low conversion and to high conversion in a Calvet microcalorimeter. Under different monomer-to-monomer ratios in the feed at low and high conversion copolymerization, it was found that the usual terminal scheme of copolymerization fitted and that there was no significant kinetic effect of the penultimate unit. The reactivity ratios in low conversion copolymerizations were r1 = 0.85 and r2 = 0. In all cases, regardless to the monomer-to-monomer ratios in the feed, an excess of 2-VNA was present in copolymers. T g values of copolymers are between 186 and 220 °C, and they decrease with the increase of 2-VNA sequences in copolymer chains. Poly(2-VNA-co-BzMN) are film-forming materials which decompose by a one-step mechanism. Depending on the comonomers content in the copolymer, the weight loss is 50% between 325 and 360 °C, and 90% at 400 °C.