Thermodynamics of the reaction of carboxyl-containing acrylic copolymers with monocarboxylic acids

Ternary copolymers of methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, and acrylic acid mix with caprylic acid from the upper critical temperature of dissolution, which increases with an increase in the molecular weight of the copolymer. When the copolymers react with monocarboxylic acids having a long hydrocarbon radical, homogeneous mixing is not observed in the 238–443 K temperature region and the Gibbs energy of mixing increases. The Gibbs energy of mixing increases with a decrease in the concentration of acrylic acid in the molecules of the copolymer and an increase in the number of methyl groups in the molecules of the acid.