The Thermal Degradation Mechanism of Polymethyl Methacrylate Blend

Polymethyl Methacrylate Blend의 열화에 따른 분해기구 해석에 관한 연구

The thermal degradation of polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) blend namely polymethyl methacrylate-polycarbonate(PMMA-PC) blend and polymethyl methacrylate-polystyrene(PMMA-PS) blend were carried out by isothermal method under air at several heating temperature from 220 to $270^{\circ}C$. Molecular weight changes during the thermal decomposition were monitored by means of the viscosity average molecular weight($\bar{M}v$). The viscosity average molecular weight was determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography(GPC). The dominant process in the degradation of PMMA-PC and PMMA-PS blend were main chain scission randomly due to weak links that may be distributed along the polymer backbone and the initial rate which the bonds are broken is not sustained. The infra-red spectra of degraded PMMA-PS blend show that the presence of aromatic ketone band at $1685cm^{-1}$. However, the infra-red spectra of degraded PMMA-PC blend show that the presence of hydroperoxide band at $3450cm^{-1}$. Thus indicating that the weak links are attacked by oxygen from the air and produce hydroperoxide or ketone. The activation energies of PMMA-PC blend and PMMA-PS blend were 18.2 and 17.9 Kcal/mol, respectively.