Determination of reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of styrene and styrene–acrylonitrile with polybutadienes

The copolymerization of styrene and styrene–acrylonitrile with polybutadienes of various microstructures was studied and the reactivity ratios determined. It was shown that for the styrene/acrylonitrile/polybutadiene systems the 1,2 structure is twice as reactive as the trans and four times as reactive as the cis. Studies in the temperature range of 50–80°C reveal that the reactivity of the polybutadiene increases as the temperature rises. When styrene is the monomer the reactivity of polybutadiene and the temperature effect is less intense than when styrene–acrylonitrile is used.