Monomer reactivity ratios of itaconic acid and acrylamide copolymers determined by using potentiometric titration method

Itaconic acid (methylene succinic acid)–acrylamide (IA–AAm) copolymers were synthesised with solution polymerisation by using potassium persulphate. The potentiometric titration method was used to determine the copolymer compositions. The results were evaluated by various methods. The monomer reactivity ratios were found to be rIA=0.99±0.04, rAAm=0.58±0.02 with the Fineman–Ross, rIA=1.05±0.10, rAAm=0.62±0.06 with the Kelen–Tüdös, and rIA=1.36±0.11, rAAm=0.77±0.06 with the Tidwell–Mortimer methods. As expected, IA is found to be the more reactive monomer in IA–AAm copolymers.