Terpolymerization of maleic anhydride

styrene and N-phenylmaleimide was studied using rare earth coordination catalysts in toluene at 50℃．The dependence of terpolymerization on molar ration of catalyst components

different rare earth element

catalyst concentration

polymerization time and molar ratio of monomers was investigated in detail．Results showed that rare earth coordination catalysts were favorable catalysts for the terpolymerization of maleic anhydride

styrene and N-phenylmaleimide．A suitable condition for terpolymerization was as followed：Ln(naph)3=5.0×10-3 mol／L

[NPMI]=[MAn]=2.25×10-1 mol／L

[St]=4.5×10-1 mol／L

Al／Nd=6

50℃；2 h．The terpolymer was primarily characterized by FT-IR

NMR and thermal analysis．The terpolymer was shown to have high thermal stability.