Reactivity ratios for copolymerization of vinyl chloride with 2‐methylpentyl vinyl brassylate by computerized linearization

Abstract A computerized version of the Fineman‐Ross linearization procedure was used to determine reactivity ratios for copolymerization of vinyl chloride (monomer 1) and 2‐methylpentyl vinyl brassylate (monomer 2). From differential refractometry data for the products of low‐conversion copolymerization, the procedure gave r1 = 1.06 and r2 = 0.234. The ratios computed from chlorine contents of the same products were r1 = 1.10 and r2 = 0.239. The polarity factor (e2) and general monomer reactivity (Q2) calculated for monomer 2 from these ratios were, respectively, −0.95 to −0.98 and 0.032–0.033. The interquartile range for the copolymerization of a mixture of 60% monomer 1 and 40% monomer 2 was 1.4%. These values suggest that from suitable proportions of reactants, sufficiently homogeneous distribution of monomers can be achieved in copolymers of vinyl chloride and 2‐methylpentyl vinyl brassylate to offer the possibility of effective internal plasticization.