Emulsion copolymerization behavior of α-methylstyrene with methacrylonitrile

The emulsion copolymerization behavior of α-methylstyrene with methacrylonitrile is described. The effects of polymerization temperature, potassium persulfate initiator concentration, sodium lauryl sulfate emulsifier concentration on copolymer yield, molecular weight, and rate of copolymerization are described. The copolymer was found to have an azeotropic composition at 43 mole-% AMS. Reactivity ratios were determined to be 0.06 and 0.28 for AMS and MAN, respectively.