We report the monomer reactivity ratios for copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and a reactive monomer, 2-[(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)amino]-2-oxo-ethyl methacrylate (IAOEMA), using the Fineman-Ross method, the Kelen-Tudos method, and a nonlinear error invariablemodel method with the computer program RREVM. Copolymers were obtained by radical polymerization initiated by 0) alpha-azobisisobutyronitrile in a 1,4-dioxane solution and were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared, H-1 NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. Elemental analysis was used to determine the molar fractions of GMA and IAOEMA in the copolymers. The reactivity ratios indicated a tendency toward random copolymerization. The polydispersity indices of the polymers, determined with gel permeation chromatography, suggested a strong tendency for chain termination by disproportionation. The thermal behaviors of copolymers with various compositions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The glass-transition temperature of the copolymers increased with increasing IAOEMA content in the copolymers. Also, the apparent thermal decomposition activation energies were calculated by the Ozawa method with a Setaram Labsys thermogravimetric analysis thermobalance. All the products showed moderate activity against different strains of bacteria and fungi. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.