CO-POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE WITH VINYL-ACETATE IN PRESENCE OF TRIBUTYL AMINE (TBA)

This work presents the results of solution and emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and styrene in the presence of a tertiary amine such as tributyl amine. This amine increases the stability of the vinyl acetate free radicals and favors copolymerization reaction. Emulsion polymerizations in the presence of TBA resulted in a terpolymer of styrene-vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol. Vinyl alcohol is due to hydrolysis in the basis aqueous medium. The homo- and copolymers otained by precipitation from the reacting mixtures were fractionated, and fractions were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and thermal analysis. Heteropolymers were obtained with both techniques, and a terpolymer was obtained by emulsion polymerization, due to ester hydrolysis. The monomer conversion was more than 26%; 15% of the motives in the polymer were alcohols and 4% acetates. With solution polymerization the conversion was more than 11%; 14% of the motives, as indicated by NMR, were acetates and the rest styrene.