Monomers reactivity ratios of fluorinated acrylates-styrene copolymers

Copolymerizations of styrene and 2-F-hexylethyl acrylate, 4-F-hexylbutyl acrylate and 6-F-hexylhexyl acrylate were conducted by free radical polymerization in acetonitrile at 80 degreesC using AIBN as initiator. The reactivity ratios of the three systems were determined by the Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tiidos methods. Consequently, Q and a values have been calculated by the Alfrey and Price method. We found that the spacer length between the fluorinated chain and the ester function has no influence on the reactivity of our fluorinated monomers. Comparison of these results with those described in the literature for hydrocarbon homologous confirmed the reactivity scale. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.