Natural rubber‐g‐methyl methacrylate/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

The grafting of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer onto natural rubber using potassium persulfate as an initiator was carried out by emulsion polymerization. The rubber macroradicals reacted with MMA to form graft copolymers. The morphology of grafted natural rubber (GNR) was determined by transmission electron microscopy and it was confirmed that the graft copolymerization was a surface‐controlled process. The effects of the initiator concentration, reaction temperature, monomer concentration, and reaction time on the monomer conversion and grafting efficiency were investigated. The grafting efficiency of the GNR was determined by a solvent‐extraction technique. The natural rubber‐g‐methyl methacrylate/poly(methyl methacrylate) (NR‐g‐MMA/PMMA) blends were prepared by a melt‐mixing system. The mechanical properties and the fracture behavior of GNR/PMMA blends were evaluated as a function of the graft copolymer composition and the blend ratio. The tensile strength, tear strength, and hardness increased with an increase in PMMA content. The tensile fracture surface examined by scanning electron microscopy disclosed that the graft copolymer acted as an interfacial agent and gave a good adhesion between the two phases of the compatibilized blend. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 428–439, 2001     

Preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl methacrylate) nanoparticles and their reinforcing effect on natural rubber

Poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl methacrylate) [P(MMA‐co‐BMA)] nanoparticles were synthesized via emulsion polymerization, and incorporated into natural rubber (NR) by latex compounding. Monodispersed, core‐shell P(MMA‐co‐BMA)/casein nanoparticles (abbreviated as PMBMA‐CA) were produced with casein (CA) as surfactant. The chemical structure of P(MMA‐co‐BMA) copolymers were confirmed by ¹H‐NMR and FTIR analyses. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the core–shell structure of PMBMA‐CA, and PMBMA‐CA homogenously distributed around NR particles, indicating the interaction between PMBMA‐CA and NR. As a result, the tensile strength and modulus of NR/PMBMA‐CA films were significantly enhanced. The tensile strength was increased by 100% with 10% copolymer addition, when the molar ratio of MMA:BMA was 8:2. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy results presented that the NR/PMBMA‐CA films exhibited smooth surfaces with low roughness, and PMBMA‐CA was compatible with NR. FTIR‐ATR analyses also suggested fewer PMBMA‐CA nanoparticles migrated out of NR. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43843.     

Human serum albumin adsorption on poly[(glycidyl methacrylate)‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] beads modified with a spacer‐arm‐attached L‐histidine ligand

Poly(GMA/MMA) beads were synthesized from glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of a cross‐linker (i.e. ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) (EGDMA) via suspension polymerization. The epoxy groups of the poly(GMA/MMA) beads were converted into amino groups with either ammonia or 1,6‐diaminohexane (i.e. spacer‐arm). An L ‐histidine ligand was then covalently immobilized on the aminated (poly(GMA/MMA)‐AH) and/or the spacer‐arm attached (poly(GMA/MMA)‐SAH) beads using glutaric dialdehyde as a coupling agent. Both affinity adsorbents were used in human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption/desorption studies under defined pH, ionic strength or temperature conditions in a batch reactor. The spacer‐arm attached affinity adsorbent resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity to HSA when compared to the aminated counterpart (i.e. poly(GMA/MMA)‐AH). The maximum adsorption capacities of the affinity adsorbents were found to be significantly high, i.e. 43.7 and 80.2 mg g^?1 (of the beads), while the affinity constants, evaluated by the Langmuir model, were 3.96 × 10^?7 and 9.53 × 10^?7 mol L^?1 for poly(GMA/MMA)‐AH and poly(GMA/MMA)‐SAH, respectively. The adsorption capacities of the affinity adsorbents were decreased for HSA by increasing the ionic strength, adjusted with NaCl. The adsorption kinetics of HSA were analysed by using pseudo‐first and pseudo‐second‐order equations. The second‐order equation fitted well with the experimental data. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)/silica nanocomposite through emulsion polymerization using dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate

Polymer/Silica nanocomposite latex particles were prepared by emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DM). The reaction was performed using a nonionic surfactant and in the presence of silica nanoparticles as the seed. The polymer‐coated silica nanoparticles with polymer content and number average particle sizes ranged from 32 to 93 wt % and 114–310 nm, respectively, were obtained depending on reaction conditions. Influences of some synthetic conditions such as MMA, DM, surfactant concentration, and the nature of initiator on the coating of the silica nanoparticles were studied. Electrostatic attraction between anionic surface of silica beads and cationic amino groups of DM is the main driving force for the formation of the nanocomposites. It was demonstrated that the ratio of DM/MMA is important factor in stability of the system. The particle size, polymer content, efficiency of the coating reaction, and morphology of resulted nanocomposite particles showed a dependence on the amount of the surfactant. Zeta potential measurements confirmed that the DM was located at the surface of the nanocomposites particles. Thermogravimeteric analysis indicated a relationship between the composition of polymer shell and polymer content of the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were also characterized by FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate/glycidyl methacrylate latexes

The butyl acrylate (BA)/methyl methacrylate (MMA), and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) composite copolymer latex was synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization technique taking poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) latex as the seed. Four series of experiments were carried out by varying the ratio of BA : MMA (w/w) (i.e. 3.1 : 1, 2.3 : 1, 1.8 : 1, and 1.5 : 1) and in each series GMA content was varied from 1 to 5% (w/w). The structural properties of the copolymer were analyzed by FTIR, ¹H‐, and ¹³C‐NMR. Morphological characterization was carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In all the experiments, monomer conversion was ～99% and final copolymer composition was similar to that of feed composition. The incorporation of GMA into the copolymer chain was confirmed by ¹³C‐NMR. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymer latex obtained from the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve was comparable to the values calculated theoretically. With increase in GMA content, particles having core‐shell morphology were obtained, and there was a decrease in the particle size as we go from 2–5% (w/w) of GMA. The adhesive strength of the latexes was found to be dependent on the monomer composition. With increase in BA : MMA ratio, the tackiness of the film increased while with its decrease the hardness of the film increased. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Adsorption of IgG on spacer‐arm and L‐arginine ligand attached poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA) beads

This work presents data on human immunoglobulin G (HIgG) adsorption onto L ‐arginine ligand attached poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐based affinity beads which were synthesized from methyl methacrylate (MMA) and glycidiyl methacrylate (GMA) in the presence of a crosslinker (i.e., ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; EGDMA) by suspension polymerization. The epoxy groups of the poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA) beads were converted into amino groups after reaction with ammonia or 1,6‐diaminohexane (i.e., spacer‐arm). With L ‐arginine as a ligand, it was covalently immobilized on the aminated (poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐ AA) and/or the spacer‐arm attached (poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA) beads, using glutaric dialdehyde as a coupling agent. Both affinity poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐based beads were used in HIgG adsorption/desorption studies under defined pH, ionic strength, or temperature conditions in a batch reactor, using acid‐treated poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA) beads as a control system. The poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA affinity beads resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity to HIgG compared with the aminated counterpart (i.e., poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐AA). The maximum adsorption capacities of the poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐AA and poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA affinity beads were found to be 112.36 and 142 mg g^?1, and the affinity constants (K_d), evaluated by the Langmuir model, were 2.48 × 10^?7 and 6.98 × 10^?7M, respectively. Adsorption capacities of the poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐AA and poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA were decreased with HIgG by increasing the ionic strength adjusted with NaCl. Adsorption kinetic of HIgG onto both affinity adsorbents was analyzed with first‐ and second‐order kinetic equations. The first‐order equation fitted well with the experimental data. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 672–679, 2007     

Synthesis of well‐defined polystyrene‐graft‐poly(methyl methacrylate)

A well‐defined graft copolymer, polystyrene‐graft‐poly(methyl methacrylate), was synthesized in two steps. In the first step, styrene and p‐vinyl benzene sulfonyl chloride were copolymerized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) in benzene at 60 °C with 2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)prop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as a chain transfer agent and 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator. In the second step, poly[styrene‐co‐p‐(vinyl benzene sulfonyl chloride)] was used as a macroinitiator for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in toluene at 80 °C with CuCl as a catalyst and 2,2′‐bipyridine as a ligand. With sulfonyl chloride groups as the initiating sites for the ATRP of MMA, high initiation efficiencies were obtained. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Single‐ and two‐step procedures of AGET emulsion ATRP of methyl methacrylate in a well‐mixed batch reactor

This study investigates the atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a 2 L well‐mixed stirred batch reactor using activators generated by electron transfer as the initiation technique. The polymerization was carried out with ethyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate as the initiator, copper bromide with 4,4′‐di‐5‐nonyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine as the catalyst system, Brij 98 as the surfactant, and ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. The reaction was carried out at constant temperature in the range of 50 to 70 °C under a blanket of nitrogen to minimize the presence of air in the system. Polymerizations were carried out according to single‐step and two‐step procedures. The coagulation was found to be a major problem, especially at high monomer conversion. However, adding more surfactant and lowering the reaction temperature weakened the effect of the coagulation but at the expense of the low monomer conversion. Measurement of molecular weight distribution and ? using gel permeation show that the two‐step techniques produced polymers with living features of atom transfer radical emulsion polymerization much better than those in the single‐step procedure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45308.     

Double‐miniemulsion preparation of Fe3O4/poly(methyl methacrylate) magnetic latex

Magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres were prepared by double‐miniemulsion polymerization. First, oleic acid coated magnetite particles synthesized by means of coprecipitation were dispersed into octane to obtain a ferrofluid. The ferrofluid and MMA were emulsified to form O/W emulsion, respectively. Subsequently two miniemulsions were mixed together for polymerization. The obtained magnetic polymer particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, and thermogravimetry. The results showed that oleic acid coated magnetite particles were well encapsulated in PMMA. The effects of initiator dosage and monomer concentration on the conversion of MMA were also investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation and characterization of a poly(methyl methacrylate) based composite bone cement containing poly(acrylate‐co‐silane) modified hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

The purpose of this study was to study the mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)‐based bone cement incorporated with hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles after surface modification by poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐γ‐methacryloxypropyl timethoxysilane) [P(MMA‐co‐MPS)]. PMMA and P(MMA‐co‐MPS) were synthesized via free‐radical polymerization. P(MMA‐co‐MPS)‐modified hydroxyapatite (m‐HA) was prepared via a dehydration process between silane and HA; the bone cement was then prepared via the in situ free‐radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of PMMA and P(MMA‐co‐MPS)–m‐HA. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ¹H‐NMR, and gel permeation chromatography were used to characterize the P(MMA‐co‐MPS). Thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR were used as quantitative analysis methods to measure the content of P(MMA‐co‐MPS) on the surface of HA. The effect of the proportion of m‐HA in the PMMA‐based bone cement on the mechanical properties was studied with a universal material testing machine. A 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was also carried out to determine the cytotoxicity of the composite bone cement. The results showed that the surface modification of HA greatly improved the interaction between the inorganic and organic interfaces; this enhanced the mechanical properties of bone cement for potential clinical applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40587.     

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate from brominated poly(isobutylene‐co‐isoprene) via atom transfer radical polymerization

Commercial brominated poly(isobutylene‐co‐isoprene) (BIIR) rubber has been directly used for the initiation of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) by utilizing the allylic bromine atoms on the macromolecular chains of BIIR. The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) from the backbone of BIIR which was used as a macroinitiator was carried out in xylene at 85 °C with CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as a catalytic complex. The polymerization conditions were optimized by adjusting the catalyst and monomer concentration to reach a higher monomer conversion and meanwhile suppress macroscopic gelation during the polymerization process. This copolymerization followed a first‐order kinetic behavior with respect to the monomer concentration, and the number‐average molecular weight of the grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) increased with reaction time. The resultant BIIR‐graft‐PMMA copolymers showed phase separation morphology as characterized by atomic force microscopy, and the presence of PMMA phase increased the polarity of the BIIR copolymers. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using commercial BIIR polymer directly as a macromolecular initiator for ATRP reactions, which opens more possibilities for BIIR modifications for wider applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43408.     

Kinetic analysis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) microgel latex formation

Curves of the conversion and particle size versus the time in the preparation of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) microgel latices by surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization were measured. The copolymerization reactions were rapid, and their rates increased with the dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) concentration in the polymerization recipe. Particle formation occurred by a homogeneous nucleation mechanism, in which DMAEMA helped to colloidally stabilize the primary particles. In addition, a strong dependence of the water‐soluble‐polymer (WSP) formation on the DMAEMA concentration was found, and the DMAEMA content in the WSP was significantly higher than that in the microgel particle. A drastic variation of the crosslinking density within the microgel particle during the polymerization process was found through a comparison of the particle size determined by quasi‐elastic light scattering with that determined by transmission electron microscopy. Finally, on the basis of these results, the mechanism of particle formation in this polymerization process was examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 839–846, 2004     

Preparation of polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) core‐shell composite particles by suspension‐emulsion combined polymerization

Suspension‐emulsion combined polymerization process, in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) emulsion polymerization constituents (EPC) were drop wise added to styrene (St) suspension polymerization system, was applied to prepare polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA) composite particles. The influences of the feeding condition and the composition of EPC on the particle feature of the resulting composite polymer particles were investigated. It was found that PS/PMMA core‐shell composite particles with a narrow particle size distribution and a great size would be formed when the EPC was added at the viscous energy dominated particle formation stage of St suspension polymerization with a suitable feeding rate, whereas St‐MMA copolymer particles or PS/PMMA composite particles with imperfect core‐shell structure would be formed when the EPC was added at the earlier or later stage of St suspension polymerization, respectively. It was also showed that the EPC composition affected the composite particles formation process. The individual latex particles would exist in the final product when the concentrations of MMA monomer, sodium dodecyl sulfate emulsifier, and potassium persulfate initiator were great in the EPC. Considering the feature of St suspension polymerization and the morphology of PS/PMMA composite particles, the formation mechanism of PS/PMMA particles with core‐shell structure was proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of binary copolymers of methyl methacrylate with glycidyl methacrylate and 2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate as carriers for cellulase

Cellulase was immobilized directly on methyl methacrylate‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (MMA‐co‐GMA) and methyl methacrylate‐2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate copolymer (MMA‐co‐HEMA) by covalent attachment and crosslinking methods. The properties of the immobilized cellulase were investigated and compared with those of the free one. For the assays carried out through crosslinking method at 25°C and pH 7, the retained activities were found to be 91.92% and 74.63%, respectively, for MMA‐co‐GMA and MMA‐co‐HEMA crosslinked with 0.1% of 1‐cyclohexyl‐3‐(2‐morpholino‐ethyl) carbodiimide metho‐p‐toluenesulfonate (CMCT), respectively. The immobilized cellulase had better stability and higher retained activities with respect to pH, temperature, and storage stability than the free one. In the repeated use experiments, the immobilized cellulase using (MMA‐co‐GMA)‐CMCT (0.1%) and (MMA‐co‐HEMA)‐CMCT (0.1%) did not change after 10 and eight times of repeated use and maintained 67% and 62% from their original activities after 25 times, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(butyl acrylate–methyl methacrylate)/polyaniline core–shell latexes

Poly(butyl acrylate–methyl methacrylate) [P(BA–MMA]/polyaniline (PANI) core–shell complex particles were synthesized with a two‐step emulsion polymerization method with P(BA–MMA) as the core and PANI as the shell. The first step was to prepare P(BA–MMA) latex particles as the core via soapless emulsion polymerization. The second step was to prepare P(BA–MMA)/PANI core–shell particles. Sodium dodecyl sulfate was fed into the P(BA–MMA) emulsion as a surfactant, and this was followed by the addition of the aniline monomer. A bilayer structure of the surfactant over the surfaces of the core particles was desired so that the aniline monomer could be attracted near the outer surface of the core particles. In some cases, dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid was added after 2 h when the polymerization of aniline was started. The final product was the desired core–shell particles. The morphology of P(BA–MMA) and P(BA–MMA)/PANI particles was observed with transmission electron microscopy. The thermal properties were studied with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Furthermore, conductive films made from the core–shell latexes were prepared, and the electrical conductivities of the films were studied. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 823–830, 2007     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with a thermal iniferter: Diethyl 2,3‐dicyano‐2,3‐di(p‐tolyl)succinate

A hexa‐substituted ethane type compound, diethyl‐2,3‐dicyano‐2,3‐di(p‐tolyl)succinate (DCDTS), was successfully synthesized and used for initiation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization. The reaction demonstrated the characteristics of a “living” polymerization; i.e., both the yield and the molecular weight of the resulting polymers increased linearly with increasing reaction time, the molecular‐weight distribution of PMMA obtained was ～1.60 and almost unaffected by the conversion, and the resultant polymer can be chain extended by adding fresh MMA. End group analysis of the resultant PMMA confirmed that DCDTS behaves as a thermal iniferter for MMA polymerization. A block copolymer was prepared from the resultant PMMA, which contains a hexa‐substituted C? C bond functional end group. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2566–2572, 2001     

Preparation and properties of silicone‐containing poly(methyl methacrylate) gels

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) gels with varying amounts of silicone and solvent and constant amounts of crosslinker were prepared by solution free radical crosslinking copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) comonomer systems. They were then studied in benzene at a total monomer concentration of 3.5 mol L^?1 and 70 °C. The conversion of monomer, volume swelling ratio, weight fraction and gel point were measured as a function of the reaction time, silicone concentration and benzene content up to the onset of macrogelation. Structural characteristics of the gels were examined by using equilibrium swelling in benzene, gel fraction and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The morphology of the copolymers was also investigated by SEM. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the FTIR data did not have the capacity to show the presence of the VTES or TEOS moiety in these kinds of copolymers. On the other hand, the variation of weight fraction of gel, W_g, and its equilibrium volume swelling ratio in benzene, q_v, exhibited the same behaviour as that of MMA/EGDM copolymers. Also, the dilution of the monomer mixture resulted in an increase in the gel point and swelling degree and a decrease in the percent of conversion and gel fraction. Finally, TEOS is not an ideal silicone compound for reaction in the MMA/EGDM copolymerization system, whereas VTES is a suitable silicone comonomer for this system and it has been proved useful. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Narrow size‐distribution poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles made by semicontinuous heterophase polymerization

The effect of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) concentration on particle size, molar masses, glass transition, and tacticity of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles synthesized by semicontinuous heterophase polymerization under monomer‐starved condition at constant monomer feeding rate is reported. Starved conditions are confirmed by the low amount of residual monomer throughout the reaction and by the fact that the instantaneous polymerization rate is similar to the feeding rate of monomer. Under these conditions, polymer particles in the nanometer range (20–30 nm) were obtained with narrow size distribution (1.07 < D_w/D_n < 1.18), depending of surfactant concentration. Final particle size diminishes as the surfactant concentration is increased. Glass transition temperatures and syndiotactic content (54%–59%) of the produced polymers are substantially higher than those reported for commercial and bulk‐made PMMA. Molar masses are much lower than those expected from termination by chain transfer to monomer, which is the typical termination mechanism in 0–1 emulsion and microemulsion polymerization of this monomer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Preparation and characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐intercalated graphite oxide/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite

A poly(methyl methacrylate)‐intercalated graphite oxide/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite was prepared by emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of graphite oxide (GO). GO was synthesized by the oxidization of natural graphite powder with KMnO₄ in concentrated sulfuric acid. The functional groups and microstructure of the oxidized graphite and the composite were carefully characterized by use of X‐ray diffraction, infrared, transmission electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. The electrical conductivity and mechanical properties were also measured. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2335–2339, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Effects of reaction conditions on poly(methyl methacrylate) polymerized by living radical polymerization with iniferter

Living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) through the use of benzyl diethyl dithiocarbamate (BDC) was studied. The aim was to investigate the role of the concentration, BDC‐to‐MMA mol ratio, and reaction time upon the molecular weight, polydispersity, and conversion of the product. It was found that the molecular weight and the conversion increase with increase of the concentration at the expense of low polydispersity. The reaction time also played a significant role, especially at a relatively long reaction time where molecular weight, polydispersity, and conversion increased with increasing reaction time. In terms of the mol ratio effect, it was found that there was a critical mol ratio for maximum conversion. The results indicate that the kinetics of polymerization of MMA through the use of a BDC inifeter is different from that in the presence of a conventional initiator. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 938–944, 2000