Poly(N-[(1-n-butoxycarbonyl)ethyl]maleimide) (PBAM) was synthesized by solution polymerization with 2,2 ' -Azobis(isobutylronitrile) (AIBN) as radical initiator. The resulting polymer(PBAM) was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), themogravimetry (TG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The initial decomposition temperature of PBAM is 321.6 degreesC; the glass transition temperature of PBAM was 240.5 degreesC. The effects of solvent, temperature, initiator concentration ([I]), and monomer concentration ([BAM]) on polymerization were also discussed. The overall activation energy (E-a) of homopolymerization was determined (E-a = 93.5 kJ/mol). It was revealed that the rate of polymerization (R-p) can be expressed as R-p infinity [I](0.58)[BAM].