Reactivity ratios and microstructure determination of vinyl acetate-ethyl methacrylate copolymers

Vinyl acetate-ethyl methacrylate (VAc-EMA, V/E) copolymers have been prepared by solution polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The composition of the copolymers has been calculated using H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy. Comonomer reactivity ratios have been calculated from the Kelen-Tudos method, error-in-variables method and C-13{H-1} n.m.r. spectra of copolymers. The triad sequence distributions in terms of V- and E-centred triads have been obtained from C-13{H-1} n.m.r. spectra of copolymers. Homonuclear H-1 two-dimensional (2D) COSY (correlation spectroscopy) and 2D NOESY (nuclear Overhauser enhancement correlation spectroscopy) n.m.r. spectra were recorded to find the coupling between different protons in the copolymer. The copolymerization behaviour of the V/E copolymers as a function of conversion is also reported. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.