Typical random copolymer structure copolymerization

In order to study elastomeric networks, simulating the type of polymers used for tires, we switched to polymers with low glass transition temperatures and oligoether bis-maleimides. A typical random copolymer structure, built from the radical copolymerization of n-hexyl acrylate and 2-furfuryl methacrylate, is shown below. These reactions were conducted in toluene at 80°C with AIBN as initiator. After 8 h, the copolymers were recovered by precipitation in 70 to 80% yields. The compositions varied fi om 2 to 30% of the furanic monomer (monomer feed and copolymer composition were always very similar, suggesting that ri and ti must have both been close to unity). The corresponding Tgs went from -70 to 30°C for molecular weights of about 20,000. Both homopolymers were also prepared as reference materials. 

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