Copolymerization of N-acetylallylamine with monomethyl maleinate under the effect of Co60 γ-radiation

Radiation copolymerization of N-acetylamine (AA) with monomethylmaleinate (MM) was investigated with respect to a radiation dose, dose rate and composition of a monomeric mixture. At small doses the polymer yield increases rapidly with the dose; in the dose range 45 to 85 Mrad copolymerization rate decreases and then (at a dose of 100 Mrad and over) copolymerization yield remains analtered. The degree of copolymerization reaction with respect to the dose rate is 0.37. Such degree points to the radical nature of the reaction under study. Copolymerization constants have been calculated: r1=0.34 for AA and r2=0.05 for MM. Saponification of the copolymer AA-MM yields a polyampholyte, an amphoteric-like polymer, containing free carboxyl and amine groups