SYNOPSISVarious homopolymers and copolymers of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and acrylonitrile in different feed ratios were synthesized. These were characterized by IR, 13C-NMR, DSC, DTA, and TGA. Spectroscopic characterization helped in differentiating copolymers of different mol ratios. Thermal analysis revealed different degradation patterns for homopolymers and copolymers. The temperature and energy changes associated with various phase transitions were dependent on the chemical composition of homo-and copolymers, as expected. 0 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.