Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the UCST behavior of PMMA in the modified dispersion polymerization

The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the formation of molecular weight of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the modified dispersion polymerization using a co-solvent of methanol/water and methanol/hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution was studied. The variables included the molecular weight upon the concentration of initiator and hydrogen peroxide, solubility upon molecular weight and temperature, particle size upon cooling rate, and reversible temperature responsive behavior upon thermal history. The relationship between the temperature and PMMA particle size showed reversible temperature-responsive behavior upon the heating and cooling processes. As a result, hydrogen peroxide was confirmed to act as a co-initiator in reducing the molecular weight of PMMA, a good co-solvent with methanol by improving the solubility and inducing the upper critical solution temperature behavior, and a stabilizer in forming stable particles upon cooling. Open image in new window