Some polymers and copolymers of vinyl ketostearates

Abstract Vinyl esters of 4‐ketostearic acid, 9(10)‐ketostearic acid, and 12‐ketostearic acid have been homopolymerized and copolymerized with vinyl chloride. Reactivity ratios have been determined for the three vinyl ketostearates with vinyl acetate and vinylidine chloride. Also reactivity ratios for the 4‐ and 10‐ketostearates with vinyl chloride and those of the 9(10)‐ketostearates and 12‐ketostearate with acrylonitrile were determined. The mechanical properties of typical vinyl chloride‐vinyl ketostearate copolymers have been examined and compared with a similar vinyl chloride‐vinyl stearate copolymer and with a plasticized vinyl chloride‐vinyl acetate copolymer. The copolymers of vinyl chloride with vinyl 9(10)‐ketostearate and with vinyl 12‐ketostearate compare favorably with the compolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl stearate in general properties.