Phase separation during bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate
- Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Osaka Prefecture Univ. (Japan)
- Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
- Osaka Prefecture Univ. (Japan)
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
We report on the phase separation of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) during bulk free-radical polymerization. The phase separation is induced when the reaction is initiated at room temperature by the redox reaction of benzoyl peroxide in the presence of an amine. During the reaction, the ratio of MMA and PMMA changes continuously. Separation into MMA-rich and PMMA-rich phases coincides with the onset of the Trommsdorff effect. At room temperature, the interface between the two phases remains, even after drying the remaining monomer. When the sample is annealed above the glass transition temperature Tg, the interface disappears. Due to the frozen dynamics of the polymer chains, subsequent cooling below Tg does not result in further phase separation. This result provides evidence for the existence of rich, thermodynamically stable states, which are typically suppressed due to the frozen dynamics of polymers at temperatures below the Tg, after thermal processing above the Tg.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1484435
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5K00-72873
- Journal Information:
- Polymer Journal, Vol. 51; ISSN 0032-3896
- Publisher:
- Society of Polymer ScienceCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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