Abstract
Aqueous deposited copolymerization reactions of acrylonitrile (AN) with itaconic acid (IA) were carried out in deionized water at 60°C with a single water‐soluble initiator. High‐molecular‐weight polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymers were acquired by adjustment of technical polymerization parameters. When the amount of IA in the feed reached 2 wt %, the conversion of the polymerization reaction, intrinsic viscosity, and viscosity‐average molecular weight all achieved their maximum values, whereas the molecular weight distribution achieved its minimum value. The AN/IA reactivity ratios, calculated with Q–e schemes (where Q and e are measures of the reactivity and polarity, respectively), agreed well with those determined with the Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdõs methods. The thermal properties and structural characteristics of the PAN polymers were measured with differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The introduction of IA into the polymerization system was found to be propitious for the preoxidation of the PAN polymers, and the characteristic absorption bands of CN, CO, or OH existed in the polymer main chains. With an increase in the required amount of IA in the polymerization system, the exothermic figure of the exotherms became broader, and the intensity of the CO and OH absorption bands became stronger. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009