The effect of polymers on the crystallisation of n‐alkanes from solution, part 1. Preparation and investigation of spin‐labelled fumarate–vinyl acetate copolymers

Abstract

Spin‐labelled fumarate‐vinyl acetate (FVA) copolymers with octyl (C8) and octadecyl (C18) ester groups were prepared and characterised. An interaction between the C18FVA and the developing crystals of n‐dotriacontane growing from dodecane solution was observed as a slow‐motion component in the electron spin resonace (ESR) spectrum of the system. The C8FVA showed no such behaviour, the spectrum being entirely of the motionally narrowed type through out the crystallisation process. Above the cloud point of the system, no interaction between the polymer and alkane could be detected either in the ESR spectra or from measurements of the rotational correlation times of the spinlabel nitroxide.