Self‐crosslinkable polymers. IV. Copolymerization of 1‐ethenyl‐4‐(2,3‐epoxy‐1‐propoxy)benzene with vinylpyridines

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Soluble and self‐crosslinkable linear copolymers with pendant epoxy and pyridyl groups were obtained from 1‐ethenyl‐4‐(2,3‐epoxy‐1‐propoxy)benzene (<jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>1</jats:sub>) and vinylpyridines (<jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) by the action of α,α′‐azobisisobutyronitrile. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined in tetrahydrofuran at 60°C (<jats:italic>r</jats:italic><jats:sub>1</jats:sub>, <jats:italic>r</jats:italic><jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, and vinylpyridine given): 0.467, 0.638, 4‐vinylpyridine; 0.556, 1.25, 2‐vinylpyridine; 0.639, 1.38, 5‐ethyl‐2‐vinylpyridine. The <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>e</jats:italic> values for 1‐ethenyl‐4‐(2,3‐epoxy‐1‐propoxy)‐benzene were calculated as 1.3–1.6 and −1.1–−1.3, respectively, with the reported <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic>–<jats:italic>e</jats:italic> values for these vinylpyridines. The intrinsic viscosities of the copolymers were found to be 0.15–0.30 in tetrahydrofuran at 30°C and to be dependent on the copolymer composition. The copolymers with these vinylpyridines were amorphous, had no clear melting points, and became insoluble crosslinked polymers under heating without further addition of any curing agents.</jats:p>