Viscosity behaviour of acrylonitrile‐acrylate copolymer solutions in dimethyl formamide

Abstract

Abstract The viscosities of dimethyl formamide solutions of acrylonitrile‐acrylate copolymers were determined at 30,35,40 and 45°C using an Ubbelohde viscometer. The viscosities of homopolymer solutions were also studied. The homopolymers of aerylonitrile and also of methyl, ethyl and butyl acrylates were synthesised in the laboratory. The random copolymers were synthesised by a solution polymerisation technique keeping the acrylonitrile: acrylate ratio as 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 (w/w). The intrinsic viscosity for each system was computed as a function of temperature. The activation parameters of viscous flow were calculated using the Frenkel‐Eyring equation. Voluminosity for all systems was also computed. From intrinsic viscosity and voluminosity data it was concluded that the polymer molecules are spherical in the dimethyl formamide solutions.