Ammonium acrylate was first used to successfully copolymerize with acrylonitrile. Kinetics of copolymerization of acrylonitrile with ammonium acrylate was investigated in a H2O/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) mixture. The rate of copolymerization and particle size were measured. Kinetic equation of the copolymerization was obtained. Effect of copolymerization systems on monomer apparent reactivity ratios for acrylonitrile/ammonium acrylate copolymers was studied in comparison. Values of monomer apparent reactivity ratios were calculated by Kelen-Tudos method. It has been found that monomer apparent reactivity ratios in water-rich reaction medium [H2O/DMSO > 80/20] are approximately equivalent to those in aqueous suspension polymerization system. In DMSO-rich reaction medium (DMSO/H2O > 80/20), apparent reactivity ratios are similar to those in solution polymerization system. With an increase in polarity of solvent, values of apparent reaction ratios both decrease. The values of apparent reaction ratios gradually tend to 1 with increase in the copolymerization temperature. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.