POLYMETHACRYLIC

VI additives to improve the viscosity index polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, olefin polymers. 

The monomers used are second generation petrochemical products. The polymethacrylates are in fact copolymers based on methyl methacrylate and up to C20 molecular weight alcohol methacrylate. The properties of the additive are controlled based on the molecular ratio of these different monomers and their molecular weight. 

Polymethacrylates are less soluble than hydrocarbon polymers in mineral oils, they thicken less at low temperatures and are more effective at high temperatures. In this respect, it is important to note that the modification of rheoiogical properties is based on interactions between polymer and oil it will therefore be always dependent of the nature of oil. 

The problem is similar to the case of lubricating oils polyalkylnaphthalenes or alkyl polymethacrylates called pour point depressants have been commercialized to lower the pour point. 

Adberabibty of the film may be enhanced by its treatment with flame, electric discharge, boron trifluoride gas, activated gas plasma, dichromate sulfuric acid, and a solution of alkab metal ia Hquid ammonia (84—87). A coating of polyurethane, an alkyl polymethacrylate, or a chlotinated adhesive can be apphed to PVF surfaces to enhance adhesion (80,88,89). 

Tetraethylene glycol may be used direcdy as a plasticizer or modified by esterification with fatty acids to produce plasticizers (qv). Tetraethylene glycol is used directly to plasticize separation membranes, such as siHcone mbber, poly(vinyl acetate), and ceUulose triacetate. Ceramic materials utilize tetraethylene glycol as plasticizing agents in resistant refractory plastics and molded ceramics. It is also employed to improve the physical properties of cyanoacrylate and polyacrylonitrile adhesives, and is chemically modified to form polyisocyanate, polymethacrylate, and to contain siHcone compounds used for adhesives. 

Pour-Point Depressants. The pour point of alow viscosity paraffinic oil may be lowered by as much as 30—40°C by adding 1.0% or less of polymethacrylates, polymers formed by Eriedel-Crafts condensation of wax with alkylnaphthalene or phenols, or styrene esters (22). As wax crystallizes out of solution from the Hquid oil as it cools below its normal pour point, the additive molecules appear to adsorb on crystal faces so as to prevent growth of an interlocking wax network which would otherwise immobilize the oil. Pour-point depressants become less effective with nonparaffinic and higher viscosity petroleum oils where high viscosity plays a dominant role in immobilizing the oil in a pour-point test. 

Viscosity (Viscosity-Index) Improvers. Oils of high viscosity index (VI) can be attained by adding a few percent of ahnear polymer similar to those used for pour-point depressants. The most common are polyisobutylenes, polymethacrylates, and polyalkylstyrenes they are used in the molecular weight range of about 10,000 to 100,000 (18). A convenient measure for the viscosity-increasing efficiency of various polymers is the intrinsic viscosity Tj, as given by the function... 

Table 2. Glass-Transition Temperatures of Atactic, Syndiotactic, and Isotactic Polymethacrylate Esters,...

In general, the polymethacrylate esters of the lower alcohols are soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, and chlorohydrocarbons. They are insoluble, or only slightly soluble, in aUphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. The polymethacrylate esters of the higher alcohols (>C ) are soluble in ahphatic hydrocarbons. Cost, toxicity, flammabiUty, volatihty, and chain-transfer activity are the primary considerations in the selection of a suitable solvent. 

Medicine. The polymethacrylates have been used for many years in the manufacture of dentures, teeth, denture bases, and filling materials (116,117) (see Dental materials). In the orthodontics market, methacrylates have found acceptance as sealants, or pit and fissure resin sealants which are painted over teeth and act as a barrier to tooth decay. The dimensional behavior of curing bone-cement masses has been reported (118), as has the characterization of the microstmcture of a cold-cured acryUc resin (119). Polymethacrylates are used to prepare both soft and hard contact lenses (120,121). Hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate are used in soft contact lenses and other biomedical appHcations (122,123) (see Contactlenses). 

Polymethacrylates. Poly(methyl methacrylate) [9011-14-7] is a thermoplastic. Itis the acryUc resin most used in building products, frequendy as a blend or copolymer with other materials to improve its properties. The monomer is polymerized either by bulk or suspension processes. Eor glazing material, its greatest use, only the bulk process is used. Sheets are prepared either by casting between glass plates or by extmsion of pellets through a sHt die. This second method is less expensive and more commonly used. Peroxide or azo initiators are used for the polymerization (see Methacrylic polymers). 

The most commonly used polymers are cellulose acetate phthalate [9004-38-0] (CAP), poly(vinyl acetate phthalate) [34481-48-6] (PVAP), hydroxypropylmethyl-ceUulosephthalate [71138-97-1] (HPMCP), and polymethacrylates (111) (see Cellulose esters). Acrylate copolymers are also available (112). Eigure 11 shows the dissolution behavior of some commercially available enteric materials. Some manufacturers supply grades designed to dissolve at specific pH values with increments as small as 0.5 pH unit (113). 

This family includes a range of polyacrylates (III), polymethacrylates (IV) and the important fibre-forming polymer, polyacrylonitrile (V). 

As is the case in the polyolefins, the polymethacrylates with branched side chains have higher softening points and are harder than their unbranched isomers. The effect of branching of Vicat Softening point is shown in Table 75.5.> ... 

In the case of boilers operating at low pressure, organic materials such as natural and modified tannins, starches, or alginates are added to aid blowdown. For boilers operating at high pressure, synthetic materials such as polyacrylates and polymethacrylates have been developed. The most commonly used chemicals for boiler feedwater treatment are phosphates and hydrazine. 

Beaded polymeric support, whether polystyrene-divinylbenzene, polymethacrylate, or polyvinyl alcohol, is conventionally produced by different variations of a two-phase suspension polymerization process, in which liquid microdroplets are converted to the corresponding solid microbeads (1). 

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