copolymers containing rare earth metal were prepared by the copolymerization of rare earth complexes with Methyl Methacrylate (MMA).The formula of rare erath complexes can be expressed as:RE(β)2(AA)(L)n

where RE=Sm

Eu

Tb

Ho or Y

β=acac

BA

DBM or TTA

AA=acrylic acid

L=1

10-phenanthroline(phen)

or 2

2′-bipyridyl(bipy)

n=0

1 or 2.These rare earth copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis

FT-IR

1H-NMR

XPS

and UV.They are soluble in common organic solvents

such as benzene

chlolroform

THF and acetone

which make them useful for forming films.Their molecular weights (Mw)are in the range of 20

000～50

000 measured by GPC.Rare earth complex units in copolymers did not dissociate during polymerization and purification.Thermal analysis indicated that copolymers show higher thermal stability than PMMA. The effect of monomer concentration

initiator concentration

solvent

reaction time and temperature on copolymerization were discussed.The kinetic behavior of copolymerization was also investigated.The reactivity ratio of MMA(r1)and Sm(BA)2(AA)(r2)were found to be 1.62 and 0.056

respectively.