High temperature copolymerization of styrene/ethyl acrylate: Reactivity ratio estimation in bulk and solution

Styrene/ethyl acrylate (Sty/EA) free-radical copolymerizations have been conducted in bulk with and without initiator and in solution using p-xylene and m-xylene (30 wt% and 60 wt% solvent level) at 100(degree)C and 130(degree)C. The monomer reactivity ratio values and their temperature dependence have been determined from low conversion copolymer composition data using the computer software package RREVM, which is based on the error in variables model (EVM) method. Copolymer composition data at low conversion confirmed the Mayo-Lewis model at both temperatures. The reactivity ratio values of the Sty/EA system do not seem to change with dilution by nonpolar solvents at low concentration from the reactivity ratio values obtained in bulk with and without initiator. However, xylene isomers were found to have a slight effect on the reactivity ratio value of ethyl acrylate when high solvent concentration was utilized.