Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, vol.43, no.13, pp.2901-2911, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
We report the monomer reactivity ratios for copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and a reactive monomer, 2-[(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)amino]-2- oxo-ethyl methacrylate (IAOEMA), using the Fineman-Ross method, the Kelen-Tüdös method, and a nonlinear error invariablemodel method with the computer program RREVM. Copolymers were obtained by radical polymerization initiated by α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile in a 1,4-dioxane solution and were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. Elemental analysis was used to determine the molar fractions of GMA and IAOEMA in the copolymers. The reactivity ratios indicated a tendency toward random copolymerization. The polydispersity indices of the polymers, determined with gel permeation chromatography, suggested a strong tendency for chain termination by disproportionation. The thermal behaviors of copolymers with various compositions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The glass-transition temperature of the copolymers increased with increasing IAOEMA content in the copolymers. Also, the apparent thermal decomposition activation energies were calculated by the Ozawa method with a Setaram Labsys thermogravimetric analysis thermobalance. All the products showed moderate activity against different strains of bacteria and fungi. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.