Polybutylacrylate/poly(methyl methacrylate) Core-Shell Elastic Particles as Epoxy Resin Toughener: Part I Design and Preparation

Polybutylacrylate (PBA)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core-shell elastic particles (CSEP), whose rubbery core diameter ranged from 0.08 μm to 1.38μm, were synthesized by using conventional emulsion polymerization, multi-step emulsion polymerization, and soapless polymerization. Allyl methacylate (ALMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were selected as crosslinking reagents for core polymerization. Methacrylic acid (MAA) was used as functional co-monomer with methyl methacrylate as shell component. The content of vinyl groups in PBA rubbery core increased with the amount of crosslinking reagents. The core-shell ratio affected great on the morphology of the complex particles. Furthermore, the amounts of carboxyl on the surface of core-shell particles, copolymerized with acrylic acid, were determined by potentiometric titration. Results showed that methylacrylic acid was distributed mostly on the surface of particles.

AN ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY STUDY ON THE AGGREGATION OF ISOTACTIC POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)

Aggregation process of isotactic poly（methyl methacrylate） （i-PMMA） has been studied extensively for many years, and considerable progress has been made in both experimental and theoretical studies. They are, however, seldom sustained by real-space observations of the underlying morphology. In this paper, the aggregation process of i-PMMA in concentrated acetone solutions and the fractal structure of the resulting three-dimensional clusters were characterized on the basis of real-space AFM observations of their two-dimensional projection. It was found that spherical multiple-chain particles formed upon collapse and aggregation of the involving chains as a whole during quenching the solution to room temperature. By keeping the solution at room temperature, the initially formed particles stick together upon contact to form larger particles through reassembling very slowly. The succeeding collision of the enlarged spherical particles leads to the formation of small clusters. These newly formed small clusters grow when they meet with other clusters or single Brownian particles. This leads to the formation of large clusters with fractal dimension of 1.95 ± 0.05, which suggest a reaction-limited cluster aggregation of i-PMMA in a concentrated acetone solution. This is in accordance with the conclusion obtained by light scattering measurements.

PREPARATION OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)/LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDES NANOCOMPOSITES via in situ SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION

An exfoliated layered double hydroxides/poly（methyl methacrylate） （LDHs/PMMA） nanocomposite was prepared by in situ solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate （MMA） in the presence of 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate intercalated LDHs（MgAl-VBS LDHs）. MgAl-VBS LDHs was prepared by the ion exchange method, and the structure and composition of the MgAl-VBS LDHs were determined by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. XRD and transmission electron microscopy （TEM） were employed to examine the structure of LDHs/PMMA nanocomposite. It was indicated that the LDHs layers were well exfoliated and dispersed in the PMMA matrix. The grafting of PMMA onto LDHs was confirmed by the extraction result and the weight fraction of grafted PMMA increased as the weight fraction of LDHs in the nanocomposites increased.

Synthesis of Comblike Poly(methyl methacrylate) by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with Poly(ethyl 2-bromoacrylate) as Macroinitiator

Comblike poly(methyl methacrylate) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethyl 2-bromoacrylate) as a macroinitiator, which was prepared by conventional free radical polymerization of ethyl 2-bromoacrylate. The obtained comblike polymers were characterized by GPC and 1H NMR.

Effect of Low-Pressure Nitrogen DC Plasma Treatment on the Surface Properties of Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene, Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Chloride Films

In this study, commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene （BOPP）, polyvinyl chlo- ride （PVC） and poly （methyl methacrylate） （PMMA） films were treated with nitrogen plasma over different exposure times in a Pyrex tube surrounded by a DC variable magnetic field. The chemi- cal changes that appeared on the surface of the samples were investigated using Fourier transform infrared （FT4R） spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared （ATR- FTIR） spectroscopy after treatment for 2 min, 4 min and 6 rain in a nitrogen plasma chamber. Effects of the plasma treatment on the surface topographies and contact angles of the untreated and plasma treated films were also analyzed by atomic force microscopy （AFM） and a contact angle measuring system. The results show that the plasma treated films become more hydrophilic with an enhanced wettability due to the formation of some new polar groups on the surface of the treated films. Moreover, at higher exposure times, the total surface energy in all treated films increased while a reduction in contact angle occurred. The behavior of surface roughness in each sample was completely different at higher exposure times.

Effect of Methyl Methacrylate– Acrylonitrile -Butadiene–Styrene (MABS) on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)-Fly Ash Cenospheres (FAC) Filled Composites

With the advent of plastics and the wide range of fillers that are available have made modifications as precise as the tailored resins themselves. To modify the properties of polymer either by using fillers or by preparation of polymer blends gives rise to new materials with tailored properties. More complex, three-component systems, obtained by the addition of polymeric modifier to polymer filled composites may be of interest. Use of Fly ash cenospheres is very attractive because it is inexpensive and its use can reduce the environmental pollution to a significant extent. In the present study, Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)-Fly ash cenospheres composites were prepared using extrusion followed by Injection molding. The effect of matrix modification with Methyl methacrylate– acrylonitrile -butadiene–styrene (MABS) on the performance of PMMA- Fly ash cenospheres compositions was also, studied. It was found that with the addition of Fly ash cenospheres particulate as filler in PMMA showed marginal reduction in Tensile Strength, % Elongation and Impact strength and improvement in Flexural Strength, Heat Deflection Temperature and Vicat Softening Point. Compared with PMMA-cenospheres composites, the notched Impact Strength of the PMMA/MABS/cenospheres composites showed marginal enhancement in values at higher loading of cenospheres. The optimum performances in mechanical and thermal properties were obtained when the ratio of MABS to cenospheres was 1:2.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Hybrid Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Iron Nanowires for Potential Hyperthemia Therapy

Externally applied magnetic fields have been used in this study to fabricate bamboo-like iron nanowires with or without a layer of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The hybrid PMMA/Fe nanowires were synthesized via hard X-ray synchrotron radiation polymerization with various treatment parameters. The results of XRD show that an oxide layer formed on the surface of the iron nanowires. The Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 phases coexist in the iron nanowires without X-ray irradiation. After X-ray irradiation, the Fe2O3 phase transformed into Fe3O4, which stabilized the iron nanowires. The results of XAS proved this phase transformation. TGA analysis confirmed the thermal properties and solid contents in these specimens. Their ferromagnetic behaviors were examined by magnetic hysteresis measurement, which indicated that the magnetic and structural properties of the nanowires can be manipulated by irradiation treatment. This may lead to a novel synthesis for iron nanowires that can be used in high thermal efficiency hyperthermia therapy.

Antibiotic-free antimicrobial poly (methyl methacrylate) bone cements:A state-of-the-art review

Prosthetic joint infection(PJI)is the most serious complication following total joint arthroplasty,this being because it is associated with,among other things,high morbidity and low quality of life,is difficult to prevent,and is very challenging to treat/manage.The many shortcomings of antibiotic-loaded poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)bone cement(ALBC)as an agent for preventing and treating/managing PJI are well-known.One is that microorganisms responsible for most PJI cases,such as methicillin-resistant S.aureus,have developed or are developing resistance to gentamicin sulfate,which is the antibiotic in the vast majority of approved ALBC brands.This has led to many research efforts to develop cements that do not contain gentamicin(or,for that matter,any antibiotic)but demonstrate excellent antimicrobial efficacy.There is a sizeable body of literature on these socalled“antibiotic-free antimicrobial”PMMA bone cements(AFAMBCs).The present work is a comprehensive and critical review of this body.In addition to summaries of key trends in results of characterization studies of AFAMBCs,the attractive features and shortcomings of the literature are highlighted.Shortcomings provide motivation for future work,with some ideas being formulation of a new generation of AFAMBCs by,example,adding a nanostructured material and/or an extract from a natural product to the powder and/or liquid of the basis cement,respectively.

MORPHOLOGIES AND GAS SEPARATION PROPERTIES OF MELT-SPUN ASYMMETRIC POLY(4-METHYL-1-PENTENE)HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANES

Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) hollow fiber membranes were prepared by the melt-spun and cold-stretch(MSCS) method. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the section and surface structures of themembranes with special asymmetric structure. The preliminary results of gas permeation measurements indicated that the resultant hollow fiber membranes have the potential ability for oxygen/nitrogen separation.

PREPARATION AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)/ URETHANE ACRYLATE COPOLYMERS

The urethane acrylate(UA) was made of poly(tetramethylenc oxide), 4,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. A series of poly(methyl methacrylate) / urethane acrylate copolymers was prepared by using a redox initiating system. The copolymers had cross linked structures and two-phase morphologies as indicated by the results of the dynamic mechanical measurement and swelling test.

Preparation of Semi-interpenetrating Polymer Network of Silicon Rubber and Poly(methyl methylacrylate) Using Supercritical CO_2

The heterogeneous free-radical polymerization of methyl methylacrylate (MMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) as cross-linker within supercritical carbon dioxide-swollen silicon rubber (SR) has been studied as an approach to preparing semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) of SR and poly(methyl methylacrylate) (PMMA). The SR/PMMA semi-IPNs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA).

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON/GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE)COMPOSITES

Artificial bone, carbon/glass fiber reinforced PM-MA composites have been prepared by hot press moulding of pre-preg -which monofilments of CF and GF impregnated by MMA prepolymer. When the PMMA volume fraction in com-posites is 50% > theoretical and experimental results show that strength and modules of these hybrid composites are in accord with 'rule of mixture'. The tensile and flexure strength are the lowest when the raletive volume fraction of carbon fiber in rein-forcements is 50%,SEM examinations further explained re-sults.

COMPUTER SIMULATIONS ON UNPERTURBED CONFIGURATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF POLY (METHYL ACRYLATE)

A full-relaxation optimization of molecule and the popular MM2 force field are employed to obtain the geometry parameters and the conformational energy surface of a meso or a racemic dyad of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) with a specified carbonyl-bond orientation in side-groups. It is found that the conformational energy maps calculated here considerably differ from those calculated with the rigid molecular model as reported in the earlier studies. The g(-) state cannot be omitted in the obtained contour maps. Two important conformers tg(-) and g(-t) with energy minima were newly detected for a racemic dyad. The analysis on the conformations with energy minima confirmed that the ester groups are not always perpendicular to the plane defined by the two adjacent skeletal bonds and may change their relative orientations to meet the requirement of lower energies during the conformational state transition. Instead of the early way of adjusting the interaction energy parameters to fit the experimental data, we attempt to predict unperturbed chain dimensions via the reliable force field and the configurational statistical mechanics. The proposed scheme with three rotational states identified from the contour maps allowed us to satisfactorily reproduce the experimental dimensions of random PMA chains.

Stereocomplex Formation of Atactic Poly(methyl mcthacrylate)

Stereocomplexes formed in atactic poly(methyl methacrylatc) (α-PMMA) films cast form different solvents were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The growth of stereocomplex was a function of annealing temperature and annealing time. respectively.

POLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE METHYL PHOSPHATE IN THE PRESENCE OF SODIUM POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL)ATE

Poly(ethylene methyl phosphate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ethylene methyl phosphate) triblock copolymers carrying hydroxyl group at both chain ends were synthesized with sodium poly(ethylene glycol)ate as initiator. The effects of the factors such as solvent, amount of the initiator and reaction time were investigated. The copolymers were characterized by IR, H-1-NMR, H-1{P-31}-NMR, C-13-NMR, P-31{H-1}-NMR, and DSC. High molecular weight of the copolymer and high yield of the polymerization were achieved within 3 min at 25 degrees C. The polymerization process was studied by P-31{H-1}-NMR and transesterification was found during longer polymerization time.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW COMBLIKE POLYMER BASED ON POLY (VINYL METHYL ETHER-ALT-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE) BACKBONE

A new comblike polymer host for polymer electrolyte was synthesized by reacting monomethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol) with poly(vinyl methyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) and endcapping the residual carboxylic acid with methanol. Butanone was selected as a solvent for the esterification in order to obtain a completely soluble product. The synthesis process was traced through by LR. Compared with the model compounds, the presumed structure of this comblike polymer has been proved to be valid by C-13 NMR The comb polymer is a white rubbery solid. It can be dissolved in butanone and THF, and manifests good film forming ability.

SINGLE-ION CONDUCTIVITY IN POLY (LITHIUM PROPIONATE METHYL SILOXANE)

Poly(lithium propionate methyl siloxane )as a single-ion carrier source was synthesized. The crosslinked film showed lower lithium ionic conductivity at room temperature (about 10^(-10) S/cm). However,the lithium ionic conductivity was obviously increased by blending with high polar polymers such as polyethylene oxide, poly (methylsiloxane - co- ethylene oxide) and poly (methylsiloxane- g- ethylene oxide). In the blend system a high conductivity of 10^(-7)-10^(-5) Scm^(-1) at room temperature was obtained and the single-ion conductivity was deeply influenced by the content of the poly (lithium propionate methyl siioxane). The dc ionic conductivity of the flexible crosslinked films is more stable over time.

EFFECTS OF ω-ACRYLOYL POLY (ETHYLENE OXIDE) MACROMONOMER ON EMULSIFIER-FREE EMULSI0N COPOLYMERIZATION OF METHYL METHACRYLATE AND n-BUTYL ACRYLATE

Well-defined nonionic hydrophilic ω-acryloyl poly(ethylene oxide) macro-monomer (PEO-A) has been prepared by living anionic polymerization of ethylene oxidewith diphenyl methyl potassium as the initiator and acryloyl chloride as the reaction termi-nating agent. The polymer was characterized by FTIR and SEC. The emulsifier-free emul-sion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (BA) containingvarious concentrations of PEO-A was studied. In all cases stable emulsion coplymerizationsof MMA and BA were obtained. The stabilizing effect was found to be dependent on themolecular weight and the feed amount of the macromonomer.