| Abstract: | Xerogels comprising 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid (AMPS) and acrylic acid as well as AMPS and acrylamide crosslinked with hexafunctional crosslinking agent have been prepared by catalytic initiation polymerization to complete conversion. Different percentages of hexafunctional crosslinker, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, were used to prepare crosslinked copolymers having different degree of crosslink densities. The crosslinked copolymers were swollen in water to equilibrium. The volume fraction of polymer, the swelling capacity and the equilibrium water content were obtained. Low conversion polymerization was used to determine the reactivity ratios of both monomer pairs. Fourier transform spectroscopy was utilized to measure the molar ratio of copolymers constituents. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
