| Abstract: | Polymers containing both pendant carboxyl and epoxy groups were synthesized by the radical copolymerization of p-vinylbenzyl glycidyl ether (VBGE) and itaconic acid monomethyl ester (IAME). The copolymerization proceeded smoothly under various conditions, and polymer soluble in 1,4-dioxane with no gel fraction was obtained. However, the carboxyl-epoxy addition reaction between VBGE and IAME was observed, when DMSO or DMF were used as polymerization solvents. The IR and 1H-NMR spectrum of copolymers of VBGE and IAME showed the corresponding structure. The thermal crosslinking reaction of the resulting copolymers was examined under various conditions. Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) showed catalytic activity for the reaction. However, a 100% gel fraction of polymer was achieved after only 15 min without any catalyst, when the crosslinking reaction was performed at 150°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
