UV degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) and its vinyltriethoxysilane containing copolymers

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 65; no. 2; pp. 225 - 229
• Main Authors: CAYKARA, T, GÜVEN, O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-01-1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crosslinking and degradation; Exact sciences and technology; Physicochemistry of polymers; Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA; Polymers and radiations; UV irradiation; Vinyltriethoxysilane–methyl methacrylate copolymers; UV irradiation; Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA; Vinyltriethoxysilane–methyl methacrylate copolymers; Vinyl derivative copolymer; Mechanical properties; Reaction mechanism; Methyl methacrylate polymer; Crosslinking; Tensile property; Experimental study; Methyl methacrylate copolymer; Silicon copolymer; Photochemical degradation
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-3910(99)00008-7

The photodegradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES)–methyl methacrylate (MMA) copolymer films was studied by UV irradation (λ=259 nm). Evidence for the photodegradation of PMMA and copolymers was found in the different FT–IR and UV–VIS spectra. The scission of ester side-groups of PMMA were determined by using FT–IR and UV–VIS difference spectra. However, in the same process of the copolymers, both scission of the ester side-groups and crosslinking occur simultaneously. It is observed that UV irradation causes changes of the mechanical properties of PMMA and copolymers.