Macromolecules, Vol.50, No.9, 3516-3523, 2017
Free Radical Copolymerization of Ethylene with Vinyl Acetate under Mild Conditions
This work highlights a medium pressure and temperature radical polymerization process in organic solvents for the synthesis of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA). Organic solvents play a crucial role in copolymerization yields, copolymer molar masses, chemical composition, and branching degree. THE and dimethylcarbonate (DMC) were selected, yielding EVA copolymers exhibiting molar masses from 1000 up to 35000 g mol(-1) and vinyl acetate contents between 4 and 32 mol %. In the case of DMC, an additional transfer agent (propanal) was required to reach the molar-mass range targeted for the specific application of EVA copolymers as cold flow improver (CFI): an essential diesel fuel additive.