HPLC method for the determination of monomer conversion and composition during the poly(styrene-r-methylmethacrylate) polymerization

Copolymers of styrene (STY) and methylmetacrylate (MMA) are widely employed due to the low price of the starting monomers coupled with their synthetic versatility. A chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the conversion degree of the single components of the polymer during the copolymerization reaction and the composition of the produced copolymer. The crude reaction mixture is directly analyzed during the reaction with only a dilution pretreatment. Accordingly, the method allows quick and simple monitoring of the reaction as it proceeds.