Monomer methacrylate

These materials are obtained through free-radical polymerization of acrylic or methacrylic monomers, or of fumarates. 

Place 25 g. of methyl methacrylate polymer (G.B. Diakon (powder). Perspex (sheet) U.S.A. Lucite, Plexiglass) in a 100 ml. Claisen flask, attach an efficient condenser e.g., of the double smface type) and distil with a small luminous flame move the flame to and fro around the sides of the flask. At about 300° the polymer softens and undergoes rapid depolymerisation to the monomer, methyl methacrylate, which distils over into the receiver. Continue the distillation until only a small black residue (3-4 g.) remains. Redistil the hquid it passes over at 100-110°, mainly at 100-102°. The yield of methyl methacrylate (monomer) is 20 g. If the monomer is to be kept for any period, add 0 -1 g. of hydro quinone to act as a stabiUser or inhibitor of polymerisation. 

Functional Group Methacrylate Monomers. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate and dimeth-ylaminoethyl methacrylate produce polymers having the following formulas ... 

Organometahic methacrylate monomers containing tin, sihcon, germanium, lead, and titanium have become available in at least laboratory research quantities (65). 

The chemical resistance and excellent light stabiUty of poly(methyl methacrylate) compared to two other transparent plastics is illustrated in Table 5 (25). Methacrylates readily depolymerize with high conversion, ie, 95%, at >300° C (1,26). Methyl methacrylate monomer can be obtained in high yield from mixed polymer materials, ie, scrap. 

Table 6. Physical Properties of Commercially Available Methacrylate Monomers CH 2 = C(CH3)C00R ...

Handling, Health, and Safety of Methacrylic Monomers. Good ventilation to reduce exposure to vapors, splashproof goggles to avoid eye contact, and protective clothing to avoid skin contact are required for the safe handling of methacrylic monomers. A more extensive discussion of safety factors should be consulted before handling these monomers (28). 

Methacrylate monomers are shipped in bulk quantities, tank cars, or tank tmcks. Mild steel is the usual material chosen for bulk storage faciUties for these monomers, although stainless steel (Types 304 and 316) is also recommended for the esters and is a necessity for the acids. Moisture must be excluded to avoid msting and contamination of the monomers. Copper (qv) or copper alloys (qv) must not be allowed contact with acryUc monomers intended for use in polymerisation because copper is an inhibitor (28). 

Free-radical polymerization processes are used to produce virtually all commercial methacrylic polymers. Usually free-radical initiators (qv) such as azo compounds or peroxides are used to initiate the polymerizations. Photochemical and radiation-initiated polymerizations are also well known. At a constant temperature, the initial rate of the bulk or solution radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers is first-order with respect to monomer concentration, and one-half order with respect to the initiator concentration. Rate data for polymerization of several common methacrylic monomers initiated with 2,2 -azobisisobutyronitrile [78-67-1] (AIBN) have been deterrnined and are shown in Table 8. 

The free-radical polymerization of methacrylic monomers follows a classical chain mechanism in which the chain-propagation step entails the head-to-taH growth of the polymeric free radical by attack on the double bond of the monomer. Chain termination can occur by either combination or disproportionation, depending on the conditions of the process (36). 

A substantial fraction of commercially prepared methacrylic polymers are copolymers. Monomeric acryUc or methacrylic esters are often copolymerized with one another and possibly several other monomers. Copolymerization greatiy increases the range of available polymer properties. The aH-acryhc polymers tend to be soft and tacky the aH-methacryhc polymers tend to be hard and brittie. By judicious adjustment of the amount of each type of monomer, polymers can be prepared at essentially any desired hardness or flexibiUty. Small amounts of specially functionalized monomers are often copolymerized with methacrylic monomers to modify or improve the properties of the polymer directiy or by providing sites for further reactions. Table 9 lists some of the more common functional monomers used for the preparation of methacrylic copolymers. 

The surfactants (qv) used in the emulsion polymerization of acryUc or methacrylic monomers are classified as anionic, cationic, or nonionic. Anionic surfactants, such as alkyl sulfates and alkylarene sulfonates and phosphates, or nonionic surfactants, such as alkyl or aryl polyoxyethylenes, are most common. Mixed anionic nonionic surfactant systems are also widely utilized. 

Methacrylate monomers do not generally polymerize by a cationic mechanism. In fact, methacrylate functionaUty is often utilized as a passive pendent group for cationicaHy polymerizable monomers. Methacrylate monomers also have been used as solvents or cosolvents for cationic polymerizations (90,91). 

The cross-linking reaction mechanism is also influenced by the presence of other monomers. Methyl methacrylate is often used to improve the uv resistance of styrene-based resins. However, the disparate reaction rates of styrene and methacrylate monomer with the fumarate unsaturation not only preclude the use of more than 8% of the methacrylate monomer due to the significant slowing of the cross-linking reaction but also result in undercured products. 

Methacrylate monomers are most effective with derivatives of bisphenol A epoxy dimethacrylates, in which the methacrylate—methacrylate cross-linking reaction proceeds at a much faster pace than with styrene monomer. This proves beneficial in some fabrication processes requiring faster cure, such as pultmsion and resin-transfer mol ding (RTM). 

Butyl alcohol is employed as a feedstock in Japan to make methyl methacrylate monomer. In one such process (26), the alcohol is oxidized (in two steps) to acryHc acid, which is then esterified with methanol. In a similar process (27), /-butyl alcohol is oxidized in the presence of ammonia to give methacrylonitrile [126-98-7]. The latter is hydrolyzed to methacrjiamide [79-39-0] which then reacts with methanol to yield methyl methacrylate [80-62-6]. 

The performance of many metal-ion catalysts can be enhanced by doping with cesium compounds. This is a result both of the low ionization potential of cesium and its abiUty to stabilize high oxidation states of transition-metal oxo anions (50). Catalyst doping is one of the principal commercial uses of cesium. Cesium is a more powerflil oxidant than potassium, which it can replace. The amount of replacement is often a matter of economic benefit. Cesium-doped catalysts are used for the production of styrene monomer from ethyl benzene at metal oxide contacts or from toluene and methanol as Cs-exchanged zeofltes ethylene oxide ammonoxidation, acrolein (methacrolein) acryflc acid (methacrylic acid) methyl methacrylate monomer methanol phthahc anhydride anthraquinone various olefins chlorinations in low pressure ammonia synthesis and in the conversion of SO2 to SO in sulfuric acid production. 

The Hquid is basically a methacrylate monomer having a suitable inhibitor to ensure adequate shelf life. A/Ai -Dimethyl-/)-toluidine [99-97-8] is probably the most common polymerization accelerator although A/A/-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)- -toluidine and/or a sulfinate salt, eg, sodium -toluene sulfinate [873-55-2], also maybe used. 

The addition—reaction product of bisphenol A [80-05-07] and glycidyl methacrylate [106-91-2] is a compromise between epoxy and methacrylate resins (245). This BSI—GMA resin polymerizes through a free-radical induced covalent bonding of methacrylate rather than the epoxide reaction of epoxy resins (246). Mineral fillers coated with a silane coupling agent, which bond the powdered inorganic fillers chemically to the resin matrix, are incorporated into BSI—GMA monomer diluted with other methacrylate monomers to make it less viscous (245). A second monomer commonly used to make composites is urethane dimethacrylate [69766-88-7]. 

Over the years many blends of polyurethanes with other polymers have been prepared. One recent example is the blending of polyurethane intermediates with methyl methacrylate monomer and some unsaturated polyester resin. With a suitable balance of catalysts and initiators, addition and rearrangement reactions occur simultaneously but independently to give interpenetrating polymer networks. The use of the acrylic monomer lowers cost and viscosity whilst blends with 20% (MMA + polyester) have a superior impact strength. 

Polyester glass laminates (with 2% methacrylate monomer)... 

About 60-99 parts of one or more alkyl acrylate monomer. This can also include lower levels of one or more methacrylate monomer. 

Isocyanates can be added to solvent-borne CR adhesive solutions as a two-part adhesive system. This two-part adhesive system is less effective with rubber substrates containing high styrene resin and for butadiene-styrene block (thermoplastic rubber) copolymers. To improve the specific adhesion to those materials, addition of a poly-alpha-methylstyrene resin to solvent-borne CR adhesives is quite effective [76]. An alternative technique is to graft a methacrylate monomer into the polychloroprene [2]. 

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