Synthesis and characterization of ethyl methacrylate-acrylamide copolymers

Free radical copolymerization of ethyl methacrylate (EMA) and acrylamide (AA) was carried out in the presence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in dimethyl formamide (DMF) at 60°C. The percentage composition of the copolymers were established by elemental analysis. The copolymerization reactivity ratios were determined by both Fineman-Ross (F-R) and Kelen-Tudos (K-T) methods. The copolymers were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, thermal, and dielectric studies. Glass transition temperatures (Tg) have been determined by DSC. The solubility parameter of this copolymer was evaluated by studying the intrinsic viscosity in different solvents.