Synthesis and thermal properties of novel poly(potassium 1-hydroxy acrylate-co-potassium acrylate) based copolymer

Water soluble based copolymer poly(potassium 1-hydroxy acrylate-co-potassium acrylate) i.e. P(KHA-co-KA) and poly(1-oxa-2-oxobutane-1,4:3,3-tetrayl)/potassium 1-hydroxy acrylate-co-potassium acrylate) i.e. P(LAC/KHA-co-KA) were synthesized by radical polymerization of 2-isopropyl-5-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-one (MD) and acrylic acid (AA) monomers followed by alkaline ring opening hydrolysis of P(MD-co-AA). The P(KHA-co-KA) copolymer generates a new lactone segment by the intramolecular cyclodehydration of two neighbouring groups in the presence of acidic condition, resulting P(LAC/KHA-co-KA) copolymer. This change enhances the thermal properties of P(LAC/KHA-co-KA) copolymer as compared to P(KHA-co-KA) copolymer.