Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.53, No.11, 1525-1531, 1994
Structure-Property Relationship of Copolymers of Methacrylic-Acid Esters .1. Thermal-Behavior
This article describes the synthesis and thermal characterization of copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and alkyl methacrylates. The copolymerization was carried out using different mol fractions (0.05-0.25) of alkyl methacrylates, i.e., octyl methacrylate (OMA)/decyl methacrylate (DMA)/lauryl methacrylate (LMA)/stearyl methacrylate (SMA), in the initial feed at 80-degrees-C. The copolymer composition was determined from H-1-NMR. The thermal stability of the copolymers was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis gas chromatography. A two/three-step degradation was observed in the copolymer samples. The monomers were the major product of degradation in most of the copolymers except in SMA/MMA copolymers where the product of side-group elimination was also observed. An attempt was also made to determine the yield of the monomers during degradation and then to evaluate the copolymer composition.
Keywords:METHYL-METHACRYLATE