Blends Based on PMMA and Meth Acrylate Copolymers

11 Blends Based on PMMA and (Meth)Acrylate Copolymers 

A large number of acrylate and methacrylate monomer variations exist, many of which are commercially available. In addition to the hydrocarbon variations (R ), functional groups (OH, glydicyl) can yield a multiplicity of compositionally different polymers. 

Copolymerization with other vinylic monomers (i.e., styrene, vinyl acetate) allows even further modification. The ease of structural modification to yield desired blend properties (miscibility) is well-documented in the experimental literature. The common acrylate polymer is PMMA and has been noted to be miscible with various other polymers noted in this chapter (PVF2, styrene copolymers, PVC, PVPh, PEO) and thus will not be discussed in this section. 

The vast majority of compositionally different poly(meth)acrylates are immiscible. However, there are examples noted in the literature of miscible combinations. One of the more interesting and well-studied cases involves isotactic PMMA (iPMMA) with syndiotactic PMMA (sPMMA) [780-782 ]. The miscibility observed may be expected, but the formation of a stereocomplex offered an interesting system to study. 

PMMA/PMAA (poly(methacrylic acid) blends exhibited Tg values higher than the Fox equation predictions and also higher than MMA-MAA copolymers of equal composition [783]. Solid state NMR showed homogeneity down to 1 to 2 nm and hydrogen bonding interactions were observed by FTIR. Poly(2,2-dichloroethyl methacrylate) and poly(2,2,2-trichloroethyl methacrylate) showed broad miscibility with conventional poly(alkyl methacrylates) (PMMA,PEMA, PnPMA, PiPMA, poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate), but phase separation with poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) [784]. 

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