Random‐coil dimensions and dipole moments of propylene–vinyl chloride copolymers

Abstract

Mean‐square unperturbed dimensions 〈r2〉0 and dipole moments 〈μ2〉 have been calculated for propylene–vinyl chloride copolymers by means of rotational isomeric state theory. The calculations indicate that for these chain molecules 〈mu;2〉 is much more sensitive to chemical sequence distribution than is 〈r2〉0, a conclusion in agreement with results of previous studies of ethylene–propylene copolymers and styrene‐substituted styrene copolymers. In the case of propylene–vinyl chloride chains, both 〈r2〉0 and 〈μ2〉 are most strongly dependent on chemical sequence distribution in the case of copolymers which are significantly syndiotactic in stereochemical structure. At equimolar chemical composition, increase in average chemical sequence length generally increases 〈r2〉0 but decreases 〈μ2〉. Under some conditions, values of these statistical properties go through a minimum with increase in the reactivity ratio product r1r2, thus complicating the use of experimental values of these properties in the characterization of chemical sequence distributions in these copolymers.