The behaviour of poly(2,3-epoxypropyl methacrylate) in dilute solution

Homopolymers of 2,3-epoxypropyl methacrylate with various molecular masses were prepared by solution polymerization with 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile as initiator. The effect of polymerization conditions on the molecular parameters (weight- and number-average molecular masses M_W and M_n intrinsic viscosity [η]) and the tacticity of the resulting poly (2,3-epoxypropyl methacrylate)s was investigated. For unfractionated polymers, the constants of the Mark-Houwink equation for 1,4-dioxane and tetrahydrofuran were determined. Gel permeation chromatography was tested as a tool for the determination of the M_w and M_n values.