INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF RECERENCE (II) 2-ETHYLHEXANOATE ON THE PROPERTIES OF SYNTHETIC PMMA BY ARGET-ATRP METHODS

Abstract

In this study, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was synthesized successfully by atom transfering radical polymerization with the application of activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET-ATRP) under simple proces of nitrogen purging for the removal of oxygen in monomer solution. Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanote with different concentrations of 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30% was used as reducing agent, CuBr₂ complex catalyst was fixed at concentration of 0.01% (100 ppm). Four-arm star PMMA with target molecular weight of 40000 Da was designed by a 4-arm star initiator. The obtained results of nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra led to the 4-arm star structure of PMMA with bromide-end functional groups. Viscosity average molecular weight of PMMA samples increase from 24400 to 36300 Da with increasing tin(II) reducing agent concentration. The PMMA synthesized at tin(II) reducing agent concentration of 0.20% shows the best thermal stability.