Study of binary copolymers of acryloyl chloride and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid

Water-soluble copolymers from acryloyl chloride and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid are synthesized by a radical method. The copolymers are characterized by infrared, elemental analyses and thermal gravimetric analyses. The compositions of the copolymers are established by the elemental determination of chlorine, and the reactivity ratios are determined using the Finemann–Ross and Kelen–Tüdös methods. The thermal degradation behavior of the homopolymers and copolymers exhibits two degradation stages. The copolymers have more thermal stability than the polyacryloylchloride homopolymer. Degradation of the copolymers leads to the intramolecular cyclization which involves the formation of a six-membered ring. The apparent activation energies of different polymers are established and related to the thermal stabilities.