Preparation of random and graft copolymers of GMA and MMA using reactive melt mixing and solution polymerization

Abstract

In this study Poly(MMA-g-GMA) copolymers was prepared via reactive melt mixing of Poly (methyl methacrylate) PMMA and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiators. Poly(MMA-ran-GMA) was synthesized by solution copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and GMA in the presence of BPO as initiator. It was found that the feed ingredient, initiator type and content influenced the chemical compositions of obtained copolymers. Chemical composition was studied qualitatively using FT-IR spectroscopy and quantified using titration method through estimation of the epoxy content in GMA units. It could be concluded that the MMA-GMA copolymers have been successfully synthesized using both melt mixing process and solution copolymerization with different efficiencies, however the solution method results into higher grafting efficiency. Accordingly, the epoxy content of product could be increased by increasing GMA fraction in the feed ingredient