Copolymerization of butyl methacrylate with cyclopropyl styrene and its chlorinated derivatives

The radical copolymerization of butyl methacrylate with p-cyclopropyl styrene (I) and its monochlorine- (II), gemdichlorine-substituted derivatives (III) has been carried out and the basic regularities of formation of functionally substituted cyclopropyl styrene have been revealed. The composition and structure of the synthesized copolymers have been established. The copolymerization constants have been determined, the Alfrey–Price Q–e parameters and the microstructure of copolymers have been calculated. It has been established that the new copolymers are characterized by good optical indices (nD20 =1.640−1.650). For BMA + (I–III) copolymers in the range of 400−1100 nm, the base light transmission is 88−90%. It has been shown that the copolymers obtained from these monomers show excellent plasticity, due to which they can be used in making of small-sized injection molding products with improved exploitation properties. The characteristic viscosity of BMA + (I−III) copolymers is [η] = 0.90−1.02 dl/g. The copolymers based on BMA + chlorinated cyclopropyl styrene show incombustibility, whereas BMA-styrene copolymers are self-extinguishing. It has been found that the obtained copolymers show greater thermal stability than polystyrene itself. The copolymers obtained on the basis of chloro-substituted cyclopropane show optical transparency, which is an important characteristic for their application in optics.