Copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl-methacrylate, or 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate with acrylamide or methacrylamide having different compositions were synthesized by free radical bulk polymerization. Some of their properties, for example, density, polymerization shrinkage, Vicat's softening point, glass transition temperature, hardness, and thermal and chemical stability were measured. The effect of the content of acrylamide or methacrylamide units on the properties of copolymers is discussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.