TEHNICAL DETAILS OF PMMA

1. 2. 3. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been widely utilized as a model thermoplastic polymer matrix because it can be easily polymerized by several different polymerization techniques. PMMA exhibits a high modulus and good thermal stability, but the polymer in nanocomposite form might provide added benefits in mechanical and thermal properties. For nanocomposite applications, the nanoscale clay acts as the host and the polymer acts as the guest. Due to favorable guesthost interactions these nanocomposites can possess substantially improved mechanical and thermal properties. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is an optically transparent material with industrial importance because of its high scratch resistivity, high weatherability, light resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. Moreover, PMMA nanocomposites offer the potential for reduced gas permeability and improved thermal and mechanical properties without any loss of optical clarity. PMMA is not thermally stable and will decompose at about 220C to give large amounts of monomer. The limiting oxygen index of PMMA is 17, it can burn easily to release heat, smoke and toxic gases. Therefore, upgrading its thermal stability without affecting its excellent physical properties and mechanical strength is the target

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Preparation of PMMA
Acetone is first reacted with hydrogen cyanide to give acetone cyanohydrin

The cyanohydrin is then treated with 98% sulphuric acid in a cooled hydrolysis kettle to yield methacrylamide sulphate.

Preparation of PMMA
The cyanohydrin is then treated with 98% sulphuric acid in a cooled hydrolysis kettle to yield methacrylamide sulphate

The sulphate is not isolated from the reaction mixture, which passes into an esterification kettle and reacts continuously with methanol.

Preparation of PMMA
Methyl methacrylate will polymerise readily to give rise to Poly (methyl methacrylate)

Structure of PMMA

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