Docosyl acrylate modified polyacrylic acid: synthesis and crystallinity

Copolymers of n-docosyl acrylate and acrylic acid were synthesized in tetrahydrofuran by conventional free radical polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The increase in crystallinity of the copolymers with increasing C₂₂ acrylate mole fraction was studied. It was found that even with very low mole fraction of C₂₂ acrylate (0.14) in the polymer chain the copolymers shows significant crystallinity (crystallinity fraction 0.23 against 0.52 for homopolymer of C₂₂ acrylate).