Radical-initiated Homo- and Copolymerization of 2-Fluoroacrylonitrile

Abstract

2-Fluoroacrylonitrile (α-FAN) has been synthesized and homopolymerized by bulk and solution methods. The poly(α-FAN) is a white solid and soluble in various aprotic polar solvents, tetrahydrofuran, and acetone at room temperature. Dehydrofluorination and intramolecular cyclization occurred when poly(α-FAN) was heated to 250∼300°C. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of poly(α-FAN) was observed to be 101°C by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). The relative reactivity ratios in a-FAN (M₂) copolymerization with styrene (St) (r₁=0.44, r₂=0.03) were obtained. Application of Q-e scheme led to Q=0.43 and e=1.28 for α-FAN.