Methyl α-cyanoacrylate. II. Copolymerization studies^†

Copolymerization of methyl alpha;--cyanoacrylate with five reference monomers gave values e = +2.1 and of log Q = 0.65, with much scatter in the latter value. Alternating copolymers are formed by copolymerization with monomers of e = −0.8 or less. Bulk copolymerization with such monomers could not be accomplished, as a rapid noncatalyzed polymerization occurred upon mixing even at 0°C. Random copolymers with methyl methacrylate could be prepared in bulk; those with ca. 10% methyl methacrylate had physical properties similar to the homopolymer of methyl α--cyanoacrylate, except that the heat distortion temperature was lowered 10–15°C. The alternating copolymers were more thermally stable than the random copolymers. Glass temperature values for alternating copolymers do not appear to agree with values predicted from equations for random copolymers.