Methyl methacrylate adhesive

Two-part reactive methyl methacrylate adhesives (MMAs) vary depending on formulation but typically have between 40-60% reactive VOC components, which results in greater than 99.5% conversion. Therefore, VOC emissions are typically less than 0.5%. These products are off-ratio tolerant compared to other systems and have no off-gassing issues. These products do have a distinct odor. 

Reactive acrylic adhesives (sometimes called tough acrylics, reactive fluids, second-generation acrylics or methyl methacrylate adhesives are based on acrylate and methacrylate monomers, and have been used commercially for >50 years. Reactive acrylic adhesives are based on acrylic and methacrylic monomers, and polymerise via a free-radical route similar to catalysed anaerobic adhesives. However, very significant differences exist. Whereas the monomers in anaerobics are predominantly difunctional or trifunctional to achieve highly crosslinked thermoset systems, reactive acrylics are based mainly on monofunctional monomers e.g., methyl methacrylate, or cyclo hexyl methacrylate ... 

Figure 6.8 Butt joint strength, erf, as a function of the thickness of the adhesive layer, /la, for a poly (methyl methacrylate) adhesive bonding steel substrates [34].

Most of the polymer s characteristics stem from its molecular stmcture, which like POE, promotes solubiUty in a variety of solvents in addition to water. It exhibits Newtonian rheology and is mechanically stable relative to other thermoplastics. It also forms miscible blends with a variety of other polymers. The water solubiUty and hot meltable characteristics promote adhesion in a number of appHcations. PEOX has been observed to promote adhesion comparable with PVP and PVA on aluminum foil, cellophane, nylon, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(ethylene terephthalate), and in composite systems improved tensile strength and Izod impact properties have been noted. 

Emulsion Polymerization. Emulsion polymerization is the most important industrial method for the preparation of acryhc polymers. The principal markets for aqueous dispersion polymers made by emulsion polymerization of acryhc esters are the paint, paper, adhesives, textile, floor pohsh, and leather industries, where they are used principally as coatings or binders. Copolymers of either ethyl acrylate or butyl acrylate with methyl methacrylate are most common. 

The cured polymers are hard, clear, and glassy thermoplastic resins with high tensile strengths. The polymers, because of their highly polar stmcture, exhibit excellent adhesion to a wide variety of substrate combinations. They tend to be somewhat britde and have only low to moderate impact and peel strengths. The addition of fillers such as poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reduces the brittleness somewhat. Newer formulations are now available that contain dissolved elastomeric materials of various types. These mbber-modifted products have been found to offer adhesive bonds of considerably improved toughness (3,4). 

Anaerobic stmctural adhesives are typically formulated from acryhc monomers such as methyl methacrylate [80-62-6] C Hg02, and methacrylic acid [79-41-4] (see Acrylic ester polymers). Very often, cross-linking agents such as dimethacrylates are also added. A peroxide, such as cumene... 

Acryhc stmctural adhesives have been modified by elastomers in order to obtain a phase-separated, toughened system. A significant contribution in this technology has been made in which acryhc adhesives were modified by the addition of chlorosulfonated polyethylene to obtain a phase-separated stmctural adhesive (11). Such adhesives also contain methyl methacrylate, glacial methacrylic acid, and cross-linkers such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate [97-90-5]. The polymerization initiation system, which includes cumene hydroperoxide, N,1S7-dimethyl- -toluidine, and saccharin, can be apphed to the adherend surface as a primer, or it can be formulated as the second part of a two-part adhesive. Modification of cyanoacrylates using elastomers has also been attempted copolymers of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene ethylene copolymers with methylacrylate or copolymers of methacrylates with butadiene and styrene have been used. However, because of the extreme reactivity of the monomer, modification of cyanoacrylate adhesives is very difficult and material purity is essential in order to be able to modify the cyanoacrylate without causing premature reaction. 

The uniqueness of methyl methacrylate as a plastic component accounts for its industrial use in this capacity, and it far exceeds the combined volume of all of the other methacrylates. In addition to plastics, the various methacrylate polymers also find appHcation in sizable markets as diverse as lubricating oil additives, surface coatings (qv), impregnates, adhesives (qv), binders, sealers (see Sealants), and floor poHshes. It is impossible to segregate the total methacrylate polymer market because many of the polymers produced are copolymers with acrylates and other monomers. The total 1991 production capacity of methyl methacrylate in the United States was estimated at 585,000 t/yr. The worldwide production in 1991 was estimated at about 1,785,000 t/yr (3). 

AH-acryHc (100%) latex emulsions are commonly recognized as the most durable paints for exterior use. Exterior grades are usuaHy copolymers of methyl methacrylate with butyl acrylate or 2-ethyIhexyl acrylate (see Acrylic ester polymers). Interior grades are based on methyl methacrylate copolymerized with butyl acrylate or ethyl acrylate. AcryHc latex emulsions are not commonly used in interior flat paints because these paints typicaHy do not require the kind of performance characteristics that acryHcs offer. However, for interior semigloss or gloss paints, aH-acryHc polymers and acryHc copolymers are used almost exclusively due to their exceUent gloss potential, adhesion characteristics, as weU as block and print resistance. 

Small concentrations of vinylcarboxyhc acids, eg, acryhc acid, methacrylic acid, or itaconic acid, are sometimes included to enhance adhesion of the polymer to the substrate. The abihty to crystalline and the extent of crystallization are reduced with increa sing concentration of the comonomers some commercial polymers do not crystalline. The most common lacquer resins are terpolymers of VDC—methyl methacrylate—acrylonitrile (162,163). The VDC level and the methyl methacrylate—acrylonitrile ratio are adjusted for the best balance of solubihty and permeabihty. These polymers exhibit a unique combination of high solubihty, low permeabihty, and rapid crystallization (164). 

Type AD-G is used in an entirely different sort of formulation. The polymer is designed for graft polymerisation with methyl methacrylate. Typically, equal amounts of AD-G and methyl methacrylate are dissolved together in toluene, and the reaction driven to completion with a free-radical catalyst, such as bensoyl peroxide. The graft polymer is usually mixed with an isocyanate just prior to use. It is not normally compounded with resin. The resulting adhesive has very good adhesion to plasticised vinyl, EVA sponge, thermoplastic mbber, and other difficult to bond substrates, and is of particular importance to the shoe industry (42,43). 

C. R. Cuervo and A. J. Maldonado, Solution Adhesives Based on Graft Polymers of Neoprene and Methyl Methacrylate, Du Pont Informal Bulletin, Wilmington, Del., Oct. 1984 K. Itoyama, M. Dohi, and K. Ichikawa, Nippon Setchaku Kyokaishi 20, 268 (1984). 

In addition to poly(methyl methacrylate) plastics and polyacrylonitrile fibres, acrylic polymers find widespread use. First introduced in 1946, acrylic rubbers have become established as important special purpose rubbers with a useful combination of oil and heat resistance. Acrylic paints have become widely accepted particularly in the car industry whilst very interesting reactive adhesives, including the well-known super-glues are also made from acrylic polymers. 

Today a very wide range of acrylic materials is available with a broad property spectrum. The word acrylic, often used as a noun as well as an adjective in everyday use, can mean quite different things to different people. In the plastics industry it is commonly taken to mean poly(methyl methacrylate) plastics, but the word has different meanings, to the fibre chemist and to those working in the paint and adhesives industries. Unless care is taken this may be a source of some confusion. 

In the JKR experiments, a macroscopic spherical cap of a soft, elastic material is in contact with a planar surface. In these experiments, the contact radius is measured as a function of the applied load (a versus P) using an optical microscope, and the interfacial adhesion (W) is determined using Eqs. 11 and 16. In their original work, Johnson et al. [6] measured a versus P between a rubber-rubber interface, and the interface between crosslinked silicone rubber sphere and poly(methyl methacrylate) flat. The apparatus used for these measurements was fairly simple. The contact radius was measured using a simple optical microscope. This type of measurement is particularly suitable for soft elastic materials. 

Neoprene AD-G. It is a Neoprene AD grafted with methyl methacrylate. It provides longer pot life (i.c. the time after which a mixture of two components in an adhesive maintains its properties) in two-part adhesives systems. 

Nitrile rubber adhesives. The main application corresponds to laminating adhesives. PVC, polyvinyl acetate and other polymeric films can be laminated to several metals, including aluminium and brass, by using NBR adhesives. NBR adhesives can also be used to join medium-to-high polarity rubbers to polyamide substrates. The adhesive properties of NBR rubbers can be further improved by chemical modification using polyisocyanate or by grafting with methyl methacrylate. 

An example of this improvement in toughness can be demonstrated by the addition of Vamac B-124, an ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer from DuPont, to ethyl cyanoacrylate [24-26]. Three model instant adhesive formulations, a control without any polymeric additive (A), a formulation with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (B), and a formulation with Vamac B-124 (C), are shown in Table 4. The formulation with PMMA, a thermoplastic which is added to modify viscosity, was included to determine if the addition of any polymer, not only rubbers, could improve the toughness properties of an alkyl cyanoacrylate instant adhesive. To demonstrate an improvement in toughness, the three formulations were tested for impact strength, 180° peel strength, and lapshear adhesive strength on steel specimens, before and after thermal exposure at 121°C. 

Consideration of the relationship between the effects of radiation on homopolymers and copolymers raises the question of the variation from homopolymer behaviour with sequence length. Every copolymer has a distribution of sequence lengths for each comonomer. At what minimum sequence length does methyl methacrylate not show the high scission of PMMA The future will probably see the development of processes for making polymers with controlled mini-block sequences to maximize a number of properties such as scission yield, adhesion, flexural strength, Tg.. 

Uses Copolymerized with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, or 1,1-dichloroethylene to produce acrylic and modacrylic fibers and high-strength fibers ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers nitrile rubber cyano-ethylation of cotton synthetic soil block (acrylonitrile polymerized in wood pulp) manufacture of adhesives organic synthesis grain fumigant pesticide monomer for a semi-conductive polymer that can be used similar to inorganic oxide catalysts in dehydrogenation of tert-butyl alcohol to isobutylene and water pharmaceuticals antioxidants dyes and surfactants. 

Hild, D.N. and Schwartz, P. (1992b). Plasma treated ultrahigh strength polyethylene fibers. Part 11. Increased adhesion to poly(methyl methacrylate). J. Adhesion Sci Technol. 6, 897-917. 

Thermoplastics A number of thermoplastics have been used as adhesives. Polyamides and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA) are used as melt adhesives. Copolymers of methyl methacrylate and other monomers are used as adhesives in the textile industry. PVAc is often used in school glues. 

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