Abstract: | Copolymers of styrene with α-cyanocinnamamide were prepared by free radical initiation in bulk and in DMF solution and also by thermal initiation in bulk. The copolymerization parameters were determined by the conventional scheme of copolymerization and by an improved scheme taking into account the penultimate unit. Different values of the copolymerization parameters were obtained at the above mentioned different polymerization conditions, indicating the existence of a solvent effect. The influence of the comonomer on some of the basic properties, like intrinsic viscosity, solubility, melting range, and glass transition temperature and on some mechanical and behavior properties of the copolymers was studied in comparison with homopolystyrene. |